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.
Episodes
In this week’s episode, I compare learning a new DAW to learning a new language – and share where I’m at in my own journey toward “speaking” Ableton Live fluently. Plus, I feature a new reggaeton-meets-comedy hip hop cue.
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pEN_lE0HZyo
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced program with over 6.5 hours of video content, discussion threads, articles, and resources which&nb...
In this episode, I’m joined by band director and composer Brandon Psenicka, whose eerie reimagining of the classic graduation march – complete with creepy vocals from his own daughter – took first place in our recent Composer Quest!
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/OFSRYuqc6TI
https://brandonpsenickamusic.com
https://www.jwpepper.com/s?q=psenicka&fuzzy=0&operator=and&facets=fuzzy%2Coperator&sort=scor...
In this episode, I’m playing submissions from our latest Composer Quest – “A Whole New Light,” and then we open things up for a live Q&A. We talk stems and deliverables, SoundCloud ads, mastering workflow tips, library contracts, and even whether or not you should leave your computer on overnight.
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/H9uHTZcDNg4
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced program with ...
In today’s episode, we’re talking about the unexpected breakdowns that threaten to bring your entire creative process to a halt. Plus, Dave features “Thoughts and Prayers,” a recent ominous tension cue written for a documentary.
Watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/SHb9GCqSlyg
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced program with over 6.5 hours of video content, discussion threads, articles, and resources...
In this episode, I’m again leaning into my professor side to break down one of the most widely used styles in production music: light tension. From tasking and corporate cues to investigative and true crime textures, we’re unpacking the entire light tension spectrum.
Plus, I feature one of my latest hip hop comedy cues, "Cat Gotye Tongue."
Watch this episode on YouTube
Join the 52 Cues Album...
In this week's episode, you're invited into Professor Dave’s classroom as I break down the sync music terms every composer should know – but might’ve been too embarrassed to ask. From PROs to button endings, we’re clearing up the jargon. Plus, I share a no-pizzicato dramedy waltz from my latest Discovery album.
Watch this episode on YouTube!
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced...
In this episode, I explore one simple, yet powerful way to make your cues stand out in a world where AI is getting better by the minute. Using my latest dramedy cue, “Of Mice and Mensa,” as a real-world example, I unpack a creative habit that adds realism, nuance, and authenticity – giving your music an edge the machines just can’t match.
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/gp_vsawIZL8
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelera...
In this episode, I talk about why SoundCloud just might be too risky for production music composers. From AI policy concerns to publishers turning away cues hosted there, is it time to pull the plug? Plus, I share Optimist Prime – a dramedy cue written without a single pizzicato string.
Watch this episode on YouTube
Other links:
https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/09/soundcloud-changes-policies-to-allow-ai-train...
In this episode, I’m answering your questions live – from piano mixing and cue layering strategies to how many libraries you should pitch to at once. We also cover reversion clauses, B sections in dramedy and sports cues, and pitching etiquette.
Watch this episode on YouTube
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced program with over 6.5 hours of video content, discussion threads, articles, a...
In this episode, I’m joined by Mrs. 52 Cues (Shannon Kropf) to talk about the one thing composers love to avoid: metadata. We’ll unpack why it matters, where we go wrong, and how to stop sabotaging our own discoverability.
Plus I feature a brand new playful dramedy cue with no pizzicato strings!
Watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Rqhy-npPH0k
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced program with over 6.5 ...
In this episode, we host a live listening party for our latest Composer Quest: Pomp and Circumstance, where 52 Cues community members were challenged to reimagine the classic graduation march in any genre they wanted – from orchestral to ska, cinematic trailer to chipmunk glitchcore.
Vote for your favorites at https://52cues.com/vote!
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Mj_xxGFzjn8
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelera...
From rejection to relationships, I unpack five more hard truths every production music composer needs to hear, but probably hasn’t. Plus I feature a recent Indian-infused world hip-hop cue!
Watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/ef1lMcXViHo
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced program with over 6.5 hours of video content, discussion threads, articles, and resources which guides you through the ent...
In this episode, I break down the Four C’s of Success – a practical framework to help composers stay clear, creative, and on track from start to finish.
Plus I feature a new investigation tension cue and give my thoughts on a psychedelic rock cue from 52 Cues member, Fraser Macdermid.
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/9tmb-sy3Qps
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced program with over 6.5 ...
In this episode, I’m sharing five small daily choices, plus a bonus one, that can quietly shape your growth and long-term success as a production music composer.
Plus I feature one of my cues that I KNOW you've heard before, and I give my thoughts on a soft tension cue from 52 Cues member, keschkau.
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/MTUbptGy5R0
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced pr...
In this episode, veteran TV producer and editor Biagio Messina joins me to talk about how cues actually get used in real-world productions – and what composers can do to make their music easier to work with.
Plus I feature a new uplifting corporate rock cue and give my thoughts on a TV Drama cue from 52 Cues member, James Oakden.
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/aJPTw3zD4yc
Joke Productions
https://jokeproducti...
In this episode, I’m joined by composers who completed the 2024 Expedition 52 composer quest – a year-long challenge to write one cue and give one piece of feedback every single week. We talk about what they learned, how they stayed motivated, and how consistency helped them grow!
Plus, I’m sharing a new positive ambient drone cue and I'm reviewing a dark tension cue from 52 Cues family member, George Cicci!
Watch this episode ...
Michael and Yuka Reschke were doing everything right… but still felt stuck. In this episode, we talk about what changed, how they found their lane, and how they pushed through when quitting seemed easier.
Plus, I’m sharing a new epic rock collaboration and I'm reviewing an emotional cinematic cue from 52 Cues member, Simon Armitage.
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/CbSzsfqpVEs
Join the 52 Cues A...
In this episode, I’m breaking down one of my most placed cues to show what makes a great dramedy cue – and why this quirky genre continues to deliver consistent placements.
Plus, I’m sharing a new introspective piano cue and reviewing a modern electro funk cue from 52 Cues neighbor, Corey Dee!
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/MmAFNkRt6bE
Join the 52 Cues Album Accelerator – a self-paced program with over 6.5 h...
Struggling with chord choices or feeling overwhelmed by music theory? I’m sitting down with Chordii co-founder Ian McClellan to talk about how this simple tool can help take the guesswork out of harmony.
Plus, I’m sharing a new intrigue with hope cue and reviewing a pulsing tension cue from 52 Cues Family member Daniel Rose.
Watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/dxzWXS2Ro-c
Get your own Chordii at https://chordii.com, and...
Sometimes a cue just needs a little extra something, so in this episode, I’m jumping into the DAW, opening up Splice and Serato Sample, and showing my real-time process for using loops, one-shots, and sample chopping to enhance a hip-hop cue.
Plus, I feature my last Modern Comedy cue and I share my thoughts on a reflective piano cue from 52 Cues Family member, Cory Lavine.
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.b...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.