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Artwork for 52 Cues

52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

Dave Kropf
Production Music
Sync Licensing
Library Music
Collaboration
Ominous Tension Cues
Q&A Session
Sound Effects
Originality
Mood and Emotion
Music Libraries
Christmas Music
NFL
Sports Broadcasting
Game Music Composition
52 Cues
Orchestral Hip-Hop
Transitions
Bob Ross
Composition
Sustainability In Content Creation

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes277Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToPerforming ArtsEducationArts

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Artwork for 52 Cues

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Mrs. 52 Cues and I wrap up the year by looking honestly at what worked, what didn’t, and how 2025 shaped both my writing life and the evolution of 52 Cues. We also lay out what’s coming in 2026 – new podcast formats, mentors, masterc... more

In this episode, I walk through my entire mixing and mastering process from beginning to end using a real indie pop cue as the example. We zoom out and talk about building a repeatable, genre-agnostic approach to mixing that helps you work faster, tr... more

In this episode, Dave opens up live office hours for an Ask Me Anything session. Topics range from PRO royalties and cue output expectations to writing tension versus upbeat cues, epic versus non-epic styles, synth tools, sample libraries, monitoring... more

In this episode, I’m joined by trumpeter, educator, and Marmoset A&R lead Farnell Newton for a conversation that tackles some of the biggest pain points composers face in the sync world. We talk about what actually catches an A&R rep’s ear, why organ... more

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Recent Guests

Farnell Newton
A&R lead at Marmoset Music, trumpeter, and educator
Marmoset Music
Episode: Inside the A&R Mind (with Farnell Newton)
Scott Reinwand
Head of Production at Warner Chappell Music, Emmy and Mark Award-winning composer
Warner Chappell Music
Episode: Meet the Exec Who Decides Which Cues Get Used
Sam Hulick
Co-founder of ReelCrafter and composer
ReelCrafter
Episode: Level Up Your Pitches with Reelcrafter 2.5
Sara Pocius
Co-founder of ReelCrafter and creative director
ReelCrafter
Episode: Level Up Your Pitches with Reelcrafter 2.5
Brandon Psenicka
A full-time elementary school band director and composer
Episode: Chomp and Circumstance
Biagio Messina
Television producer and editor, with experience on various shows and projects
Episode: An Editor Tells Why Great Cues Get Cut! (with Biagio Messina)!
Michael Reschke
Drummer, composer, and former Air Force veteran passionate about production music and collaboration
Independent musician
Episode: They Went From Returns to Real Placements (with Michael Reschke)!
Ian McClellan
Co-founder of Chordii and former drum student of Dave Kropf
Chordii
Episode: Stop Overthinking Chords with This Simple Tool!
Cory Lavine
A composer and family member of 52 Cues who submitted a cue for review
Episode: Can Samples Save This Hip-Hop Cue?

Host

Dave Kropf
Host and working composer with expertise in production and sync licensing, sharing insights from his career and facilitating discussions with industry professionals.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 47 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
    Denmarka year ago
  • Love this show!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sourcefor
    United States2 years ago
  • Top Resource

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michal Sinka
    Switzerland3 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 States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many comments highlight the host's teaching style as effective and encouraging for those new to the production music field.
Reviewers appreciate the engaging discussions and practical tips that enhance their understanding of the sync licensing world.
Listeners applaud the informative and well-structured content, citing it as a top resource for learning about production music and industry insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#232
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#202
Australia/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#226
Germany/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#36
Ukraine/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#40
Finland/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#45
Switzerland/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Office Hours with Prof. Dave | 52 Cues Podcast, 2025 Week 49
Q: Pete asks, can you give an insight on how libraries operate?
Kropf explains that libraries may operate differently, some may focus on album-oriented collections while others compose specific tracks for briefs catered to shows.
Office Hours with Prof. Dave | 52 Cues Podcast, 2025 Week 49
Q: Wolfgang asks, with 500 tracks, mainly tension cues, how much PRO royalties would be reasonable after about three years?
Kropf estimates that after three years, Wolfgang could expect about $800 to $2000 a quarter in PRO royalties.
Meet the Exec Who Decides Which Cues Get Used
Q: Is there a recurring error or something that you keep seeing composers make over and over?
Composers often make the mistake of submitting too much music at once; it's better to limit submissions to show their best work.
Level Up Your Pitches with Reelcrafter 2.5
Q: What are some things that are on the wishlist that may be these brand new subscribers?
Custom domains and features to make it easier for people to get hired are on the radar.
Level Up Your Pitches with Reelcrafter 2.5
Q: Can you just briefly talk about what ReelCrafter is and kind of what its reason detra is?
ReelCrafter is all based around the pitch, allowing users to upload samples of their music and showcase it to potential clients.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About 52 Cues

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

Focusing on production music, library music, and sync licensing, the content offers insightful discussions and practical strategies aimed at composers in the industry. Each episode takes listeners through various aspects of music creation and industry insights, addressing topics like mixing techniques, music theory, and the evolving landscape shaped by technological advancements, including AI's role in music production. The engaging format often includes interviews with professionals from the industry, delving into their experiences and tips on how to succeed in securing placements and navigating the creative challenges within the sync ecosystem.

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How many listeners does 52 Cues get?

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Which podcasts are similar to 52 Cues?

These podcasts share a similar audience with 52 Cues:

1. The Make Music Income Podcast
2. Music Is My Business Podcast
3. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
4. Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled
5. SmartLess

How many episodes of 52 Cues are there?

52 Cues launched 4 years ago and published 277 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. Farnell Newton
2. Scott Reinwand
3. Sam Hulick
4. Sara Pocius
5. Brandon Psenicka
6. Biagio Messina
7. Michael Reschke
8. Ian McClellan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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