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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

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Artwork for 52 Cues

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Sam Hulick and Sara Pocius from ReelCrafter return to talk about the brand-new ReelCrafter 2.5 update, what’s new under the hood, and how it helps composers pitch smarter and present their music professionally. Plus, we’re unveiling ... more

In this episode, we’re unpacking tasking cues – the music that underscores moments of focus, pacing, and process in reality TV and beyond. We’ll talk about what makes them work, where they’re used, and break down one of my own inside the DAW.

Watch ... more

In this episode, I unpack what it really means to write an editor-friendly cue. We’ll look at the six essentials that reduce friction in the edit bay and I'll walk through a Shark Week investigation cue I recently wrote and put it to the test.

Watch... more

In this episode, I unpack my approach to writing melodies that really work inside production music cues. I  walk through how I build motivic ideas, how modes shape the emotional color of a phrase, and how static melodies can create forward motion wit... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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?
David Gates
A composer and friend of 52 Cues
Episode: Reworking, Repurposing, and Reinventing Your Cues with SCAMPER
Andy Gesner
Owner and president of HIP Video Promo, helping artists break through the noise of the music industry.
HIP Video Promo
Episode: Do Sync Composers Need Branding? (with Andy Gesner)
Timothy Andrew Edwards
One of the most accomplished and versatile media composers working today.
NBC, Universal, CBS, ABC, FOX, Paramount, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate
Episode: The State of AI in 2025 (with Timothy Andrew Edwards)
Jeff LaPlante
Collaborating composer known for vocal chopping and pop music
Episode: What Defines the "Mood" in a Cue?

Host

Dave Kropf
Host of the production music podcast, sharing insights from his experience as a professional composer and educator.

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
    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.

Audience members appreciate the real-world insights and the candid discussions with industry professionals.
Listeners emphasize the show's usefulness for understanding the business of production music and building a career in sync licensing.
There are consistent praises regarding the quality of content, practical strategies offered, and the engaging delivery from the host.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ask Me Anything!
Q: What timelines do you find unacceptable from a library?
After a couple of weeks, follow up if you haven't heard back, and if you don't hear back after three to four months, it might be safe to move on.
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What's a good number of placements needed a year to sustain a reasonable lifestyle?
A minimum of a thousand published cues is a good start, and you may need hundreds of placements to begin earning a full-time income.
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Is it safe or best practice to upload tracks to SoundCloud that may have already been distributed to Spotify, Apple Music, or iTunes?
It varies by publisher, but it's best to notify your publisher about any public-facing links of your music on social media, whether it's SoundCloud or Instagram.
Ask Dave Anything (LIVE)!
Q: How many submissions do you recommend doing at a time?
You should pitch three tracks to the library, but have an album completed ready to present.
Ask Dave Anything (LIVE)!
Q: Should I declare that when I register the composition with BMI?
For 99.5 percent of the time, the library is going to be registering with the PRO, and you typically don't want to put sand in the gears.

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 the intricacies of production music, library music, and sync licensing, this series provides insight into the day-to-day realities faced by composers in the industry. Each episode features discussions about various music composition techniques, networking strategies, and practical advice aimed at aiding listeners to effectively navigate their careers in sync licensing. The host combines personal anecdotes with professional insights, addressing a range of topics from music creation strategies and industry trends to the challenges of remote collaboration and technological advancements in music making. Unique elements include detailed breakdowns of composition techniques and real-world applications that cater specifically to those ... more

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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. Synchronized!
4. The Music Interval Theory Podcast
5. Composer Breakthrough

How many episodes of 52 Cues are there?

52 Cues launched 4 years ago and published 267 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. Brandon Psenicka
2. Biagio Messina
3. Michael Reschke
4. Ian McClellan
5. Cory Lavine
6. David Gates
7. Andy Gesner
8. Timothy Andrew Edwards

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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