52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

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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 land more placements and build a sustainable career in sync.

Episode List

What New Composers Get Wrong About Sync

Jan 29th, 2026 12:00 PM

In this episode, Jeff Hargrove and I talk about the early mistakes new composers often make when stepping into production music – from chasing plugins and genres to overlooking the fundamentals that actually move the needle. Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/RSM5S5sPFpQSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues! Cymbal SFX - Bowed! Elevate your soundscapes with Cymbal SFX - Bowed—a masterful collection of 68 unique bowed cymbal performances, meticulously recorded for tension-filled tracks and cinematic trailers. Now available exclusively at Production Music Tools!https://productionmusictools.com/products/bowed-cymbals-by-52-cues Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

Building Better Work-Life Balance

Jan 22nd, 2026 1:00 PM

This week, Greg Fellman and I talk work-life balance and how routines, boundaries, travel, burnout, and community can actually recharge you instead of distracting you.Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/IVm4dxN1SWQSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues! Cymbal SFX - Bowed! Elevate your soundscapes with Cymbal SFX - Bowed—a masterful collection of 68 unique bowed cymbal performances, meticulously recorded for tension-filled tracks and cinematic trailers. Now available exclusively at Production Music Tools!https://productionmusictools.com/products/bowed-cymbals-by-52-cues Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

The Production Music Industry Quietly Changed

Jan 15th, 2026 10:00 AM

In this episode, Jeff LaPlante and I talk about how production and library music has changed in the last decade, why authenticity matters more, and how streaming has shifted the royalty game.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6gPapVS1b5oSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues! Cymbal SFX - Bowed! Elevate your soundscapes with Cymbal SFX - Bowed—a masterful collection of 68 unique bowed cymbal performances, meticulously recorded for tension-filled tracks and cinematic trailers. Now available exclusively at Production Music Tools!https://productionmusictools.com/products/bowed-cymbals-by-52-cues Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

Your Influences Are Louder Than You Think

Jan 8th, 2026 10:00 AM

In this episode, Jeff LaPlante joins me as the first co-host of 2026, and we’re talking about influences – the obvious ones, the weird ones, and the ones you don’t realize you’re borrowing from. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/veX7p3hbjlE Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues! Cymbal SFX - Bowed! Elevate your soundscapes with Cymbal SFX - Bowed—a masterful collection of 68 unique bowed cymbal performances, meticulously recorded for tension-filled tracks and cinematic trailers. Now available exclusively at Production Music Tools!https://productionmusictools.com/products/bowed-cymbals-by-52-cues Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

I Wrote Fewer Cues in 2025. Should I Be Worried?

Jan 1st, 2026 10:00 AM

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, masterclasses, community changes, and a clearer vision for building a sustainable creative life together.Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues! Cymbal SFX - Bowed! Elevate your soundscapes with Cymbal SFX - Bowed—a masterful collection of 68 unique bowed cymbal performances, meticulously recorded for tension-filled tracks and cinematic trailers. Now available exclusively at Production Music Tools!https://productionmusictools.com/products/bowed-cymbals-by-52-cues Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!

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