52 Cues - A Production Music Podcast
Your weekly insight into all things production music, library music, and sync licensing!
Hosted by Dave Kropf, a production music composer, podcaster, and educator based in Orlando, Florida.
His credits include CBS Sports (NFL, PGA, NCAA and more), NFL Network, The Golf Channel, FOX Sports, ESPN, ABC, Netflix, Sony, Amazon, Showtime, Disney, Discovery, Animal Planet, OWN, TLC, The History Channel, USA, TBS, E!, Bravo, TNT, TruTV, and many others.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 49 minutes
- Episodes
- 262
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
What Genre of Library Music Sells Best?
On this week’s 52 Cues Check-In, I discuss what style of library music you should be focusing on and which sells best. Plus I talk about my latest intrigue tension cue, "Cat Burglar."
Watch this episo…
How to Stop Procrastinating and Get Back to Composing
On this week’s 52 Cues Check-In, I talk about how you can stop procrastinating and get back to composing. Plus I talk about the ins and outs of a recent ominous tension cue.
Watch this episode on YT
h…
I Don't Write Music Every Day, and That's OK
On this week’s 52 Cues Check-In, I talk balancing life, projects, and burnout. Plus I unpack a magical dramedy cue.
Watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/kOqDCChpTbo
00:00 - Intro
01:58 - Why I …
Do you have to go to school to be a composer?
During this week’s 52 Cues Check-In, I discuss whether or not you *have* to go to school to be a professional composer. Plus, I unpack a Central Asian-inspired cue written for a recent Taxi listing!
W…
3 Ways to Pay Work-for-Hire Musicians to Play on Your Cues
On this week’s 52 Cues Check-In, I talk about ways we can pay work-for-hire musicians to play on our cues. Plus, I unpack a Muppet Show inspired cue featuring Joshua Glenn Wilson on piano!
Watch this …
The Power of Collaboration
On this week’s 52 Cues Check-In, I talk about how collaboration can yield amazing results that far exceed anything a single composer could do on their own, and I unpack a shredding hard rock cue feat…
Answers to Your Questions About Production and Library Music
Join me as I give quick-fire answers to questions posted in the 52 Cues Facebook group from a wide range of topics about the production music industry including copyright, income, NFTs, productivity,…
I Mix and Master in Headphones and I'm Not Even Sorry!
On this week’s check-in, I unpack a happy ukulele cue and come clean about how I mix and master in headphones and why I do it!
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/lgHUsC5Vtb4
This week’s cue…
What One Habit Increased My Productivity?
On this week’s check-in, I unpack an uplifting positive cue and tell you about the one habit that dramatically increased both my creativity and productivity.
This week’s cue breakdown starts at 12:41
T…
How Long Does It Take To Get Paid Royalties?
On this week’s 52 Cues vlog I unpack an electro tension cue and talk about royalties, cue sheets, and how long it can take to get paid!
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/f7hTUkEp0fk
This …
Can Creativity Be Taught?
I dive into a Thomas Newman-inspired cue on this week’s vlog and answer a viewer question on whether creativity and music composition can be taught. What do you think? Let me know in the comments bel…
We Never Stop Learning
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/PYBVEEl6nmo
Week 11 Cue Breakdown starts at 12:48
Kraft-Engel Management:
http://kraft-engel.com/
PERSPECTIVE Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/grou…
When Is the Right Time to Turn Down Work?
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/f2nWUOu8--Q
Join the 52 Cues Community!
http://52cues.com
Support the channel on Patreon and get access to my weekly music production live streams.
https://…
5 Ways to Get Out of Your Creative Slump
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/Xquu6jYGieQ
00:00 - Welcome
03:11 - 1. Take a break!
05:16 - 2. Listen to references
07:35 - 3. Do something else creative (or, move on to a different proje…
Organize (and color) your cues for easy export!
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/joKooqvBb7U
01:50 - Organizing and coloring your tracks for exporting stems
11:00 - Week 8 Cue Breakdown
Join the 52 Cues Community!
http://52cues.com
Suppor…
How many libraries should you write for?
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/kM_n78N4IKM
Cigar box guitar kit from C.B. Gitty
https://www.cbgitty.com/kits-guitar-kits-amp-kits-more/the-reso-plate-3-string-license-plate-resonator-gu…
Adjusting to a "new normal" is pretty normal for composers
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/PVXIjkBjOFM
Join the 52 Cues Community!
http://52cues.com
Support the channel on Patreon and get access to my weekly music production live streams.
https://…
5 ways composers should be more like Bob Ross
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/TZ2nAXhF-KQ
Bob Ross on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/BobRossInc
0:02:35 - 1. Don’t put pressure on yourself to make “art.”
0:05:14 - 2. Be generous…
When is it safe to use loops in production music?
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/Ex8Aa1lV5K8
Join the 52 Cues Community!
http://52cues.com
Support the channel on Patreon and get access to my weekly music production live streams.
https://…
How do you land a publisher?
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/LUBp5JWiJpg
Taxi A&R - https://www.taxi.com/
Join the 52 Cues Community!
http://52cues.com
Support the channel on Patreon and get access to my weekly music …