52 Cues - A Production Music Podcast

In this episode, Dave welcomes Detroit-based pianist and composer Dale Grisa about his journey from performing thousands of gigs to creating production music and collaborating with top musicians!

Watc…

It's time for another 52 Cues live Q&A! In this episode, Dave Kropf tackles questions from the community, including whether it’s safe to upload tracks to SoundCloud if they’re already on Spotify, how…

In today's very special episode of the 52 Cues podcast, Dave welcomes back Mrs. 52 Cues herself, Shannon Kropf, for a discussion about the whirlwind of the past few weeks. No cues, no production musi…

In this episode, Dave chats with BAFTA-winning composer Jason Graves, known for his work on blockbuster games like Dead Space, Tomb Raider, and Call of Duty: Warzone. They reminisce about their colle…

In this episode, Dave breaks down his epic hip-hop sports broadcasting cue, "All Up In This," revealing how to create tracks that resonate across various sports platforms. He also shares his eventful…

In this episode, Dave sits down with the winners of the Christmas in July Composer Quest: Jenny Goodspeed, Simon Tong, and Ralph Oleski. They discuss their award-winning tracks, their journeys into t…

In this special live podcast episode, Dave reviews cues written by the 52 Cues Community!

 Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced program with over 6.5 hours of video content, discussion th…

In this episode, Dave explores the fascinating connection between storytelling and music structure, particularly in trailer cues, and he breaks down how narrative beats, like those found in novels or…

In this episode, Dave unpacks the essential elements that make a cue truly stand out in the competitive world of production music. He explores the often-overlooked qualities that can elevate one cue …

In this episode, Dave shares four key strategies he relies on to maintain a positive mindset, even when the music industry throws its toughest challenges his way. He explores practical approaches to …

In this episode, we host a special live voting session for the Christmas in July Composer Quest, where participants' cues are showcased across three categories: Classic Christmas Magic, High-Energy H…

In this episode of the 52 Cues Podcast, Dave welcomes Erin Collins, Senior Vice President of TV/Film and Creative Services for SESAC, to discuss her journey from high school musician to senior execut…

In this episode, we discuss the impact of technology and AI on the production, library, and sync music industry, drawing parallels to the career of Academy Award-winning animator Phil Tippett. We exp…

In this episode, Nathan Toft, winner of the What's Your Superpower Composer Quest, shares his journey into production and library music. He discusses embracing his trombone superpower, recording chal…

In this episode, we're digging into orchestral articulations in the DAW. We'll be exploring BBCSO, which features a wealth of fantastic articulations, and examining the string, brass, and woodwind se…

For many, including myself, film music remains the Holy Grail. While I love writing production music for libraries, scoring to picture is a rewarding and challenging pursuit that I aspire to.

So join…

In this episode, I discuss why I believe the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is an instrument and how treating it as such can enhance our creative flow. By learning, performing, and practicing the DA…

So I had a crazy idea: what if I invited Family members from the 52 Cues community to come to my house and spend the weekend hanging out and sharing life?  Well, this past April, 12 members flew from…

In this episode, Dave shares five more "Inconvenient Truths" for sync composers, including insights on how to stand out in an increasingly competitive industry, and reveals some hard-to-hear realitie…

The quest:  showcase your particular, extraordinary abilities! Whether your strength lies in crafting compelling rhythms, enchanting melodies, masterful mixing, innovative sound design, or anything i…