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Artwork for 52 Cues

52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

Dave Kropf
Production Music
Sync Licensing
Music Composition
Music Libraries
Library Music
Collaboration
Metadata
Sound Design
Cue Creation
Music Production
Reelcrafter
Tension Cues
52 Cues
Royalties
Soundcloud
Editing Techniques
AI In Music
Investigative Tension Cues
Music Stems
Trailer Music

Hosted by working composer and long-time professor Dave Kropf, the 52 Cues Podcast takes you inside the real world of production music, library music, and sync licensing – breaking down cues, unpacking industry insights, and sharing candid conversations with fellow composers and publishers.

Weekly episodes deliver practical strategies, creative inspiration, and insider information to help you la... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes324Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToArtsEducationPerforming Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for 52 Cues

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Dave and Jeff explore whether there's still money to be made in sync in 2026, comparing royalties from network sports, cable TV, streaming, and advertising while discussing upfront fees, building a profitable music catalog, and the l... more

In this episode, production music composer and 52 Cues community mentor Mary Shaw shares what she learned during five months at Michael Whittaker's Scorecraft Academy, including which production music skills translate to film scoring, which habits sh... more

In this special live episode of the 52 Cues Podcast, I’m reviewing cues submitted by members of the 52 Cues community and giving real-time feedback on what’s working, what could be stronger, and how each cue might be made more useful for production a... more

In this episode, Dave reviews a production music cue from composer and bassist Elysa Tancheff, breaking down what he listens for in arrangement, energy, edit points, mix, and library usability.

If you'd like feedback on your own cues, head over to h... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Mary Shaw
52 Cues Community mentor
Scorecraft Academy mentor
Episode: Can Production Music Prepare You for Film Scoring?
Elysa Tancheff
52 Cues family member, cue author of The Arc of Development
52 Cues
Episode: What I Listen For When Reviewing Cues
Marlon Gibbons
Special guest
Publisher/Workshop Facilitator
Episode: What's going on this week at 52 Cues? | 2026 Week 37
Anne-Kathrin Dern
Film and game composer; discussed career paths and industry changes
Independent composer / Anne-Kathrin Dern
Episode: How Would You Start a Composing Career in 2026 (with Anne-Kathrin Dern)?
Anne Catherine Derns
Interview guest referenced in episode
Episode: What's going on this week at 52 Cues? | 2026 Week 34
Ivan Talaichuk
Founder and CEO of Pibox
Pibox
Episode: Have You Outgrown Your Composer Workflow?
Philip Johnston
Purveyor of Orchestration Recipe, composer, classically trained pianist
Orchestration Recipes
Episode: How to Learn Orchestration Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Jeff LaPlante
Community mentor and guest on the show
52 Cues community
Episode: Your Cue Got Accepted! Don't Blow the Deliverables.
Chuck Henry
CEO of 10 West Music, publisher, producer and composer
10 West Music
Episode: Brutally Honest Advice from a Library CEO (Chuck Henry, 10 West Music)

Host

Dave Kropf
Host of the podcast and producer/creator

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 46 ratings
  • The worlds best

    This is without doubt the worlds best podcast covering the business of production music.

    If you find the way Dave teaches good, then I will suggest you join 52cues as I did.

    See you there!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Landersen61
    Denmark2 years ago
  • Love this show!

    Great content great interviews there’s always something new to learn!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sourcefor
    United States3 years ago
  • Top Resource

    One of the best, most informative resources on production music out there.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michal Sinka
    Switzerland4 years ago
  • This is perfect!!!

    Exactly what I needed. You are doing such an amazing job with this content. It is so helpful and is helping me personally tremendously. Please do not stop. God bless you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ilia alania
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Professional and actionable, great for new and seasoned composers alike.
Clear evidence that the host and guests know the production music world inside out.
Helpful for sponsors to understand the value of targeted podcast partnerships.
High-quality interviews with practical takeaways you can apply today.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#222
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#72
Switzerland/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#76
Philippines/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#102
Finland/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#109
Spain/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#113
Denmark/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

We Asked Anne-Kathrin Dern About Her Brutal Composer Advice
Q: What has your journey into darker, synth-based scores been like, and how has it changed your workflow?
It's expanded my template, forcing me to start with patches and sounds rather than orchestral material, and to collaborate with sound designers to achieve the exact textures needed for effective horror and thriller cues.
How Would You Start a Composing Career in 2026 (with Anne-Kathrin Dern)?
Q: What would AKD from a few years ago do differently if starting in 2026?
She would emphasize getting an education in an affordable way, still believing in the value of formal learning in a competitive field, and she would pursue that education without taking on massive debt while maintaining focus on practical, steady income to support filmmaking and library work on the side.
Your Cue Got Accepted! Don't Blow the Deliverables.
Q: Now, Jeff, do you have any different experience with stems or your libraries? Do they ask for anything different than what I've been talking about so far?
Jeff shares that while stems are usually instrument groupings rather than every isolated track, editors want flexibility to reassemble the mix for different uses, and sometimes special stems like a no symbol or impact mix are requested for specific placements; practical tips include keeping mastering chains intact and ensuring the stems align with the full mix.
Dave Answers Your Production Music Questions
Q: How many libraries am I with now?
Dave shares numbers indicating around nine to ten libraries with cues placed, and actively servicing about four to six libraries, with ongoing collaboration through the Sync Accelerator and briefing room to distribute work more widely.
Stop Using Spreadsheets for Metadata with Cuemonic
Q: Give us the elevator pitch. What is Cuemonic and who is it for?
Cuemonic is a focused, small tool designed to manage metadata for production music, artists, and songwriters. It's built to be easy to integrate into existing workflows and to generate starter metadata using AI, which users can edit, saving time and reducing the friction of cataloging cues for publishers.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About 52 Cues

What is 52 Cues about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical deep-dive into the business of production music, library submissions, and sync licensing. Episodes frequently unpack cue deliverables, metadata, and the craft of building sustainable careers, blending hands-on workflows with candid industry insights from publishers, composers, and mentors. Notable topics include navigating AI's role, loop and sample usage, building efficient productivity systems, and strategies for networking and long-term partnerships with libraries and supervisors. The show stands out for its concrete, real-world guidance, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and a community-driven approach that helps listeners land placements and grow their libraries and careers.

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How many episodes of 52 Cues are there?

52 Cues launched 5 years ago and published 324 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on 52 Cues?

Recent guests on 52 Cues include:

1. Mary Shaw
2. Elysa Tancheff
3. Marlon Gibbons
4. Anne-Kathrin Dern
5. Anne Catherine Derns
6. Ivan Talaichuk
7. Philip Johnston
8. Jeff LaPlante

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