52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

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.

52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Dave Kropf, with 312 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Dave Kropf hosts 52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast, a education show with 312 episodes published.

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  Episode #282

  We Asked Anne-Kathrin Dern About Her Brutal Composer Advice

  Aug 20, 202645 minS2026

  In this episode, film and game composer Anne-Kathrin Dern joins Dave to talk about her recent brutally honest composer advice, how her own career has evolved, and how she actually gets hired. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rYF_xun27Ec https://annedern-filmcomposer.com https://www.youtube.com/@AnneKathrinDernComposer How Hard Is it to Make a Living in Production Music? | 52 Cues Podcast #278 https://youtu.be/-owQEUH26js Is Production Music Worth It in 2026? | 52 Cues Podcast #279 https://youtu.be/L9gJYZC8330 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 ! Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com It'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!

  ListenShow Notes
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  52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

  What's going on this week at 52 Cues? | 2026 Week 33

  Aug 17, 20269 min

  Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/72TYUpvBsys Weekly Feedback - Week 33 https://my.52cues.com/posts/95668894 Office Hours https://my.52cues.com/posts/104215320 Live Feedback and Critiques (Tuesday) https://my.52cues.com/posts/105502768 A Little Chat with Shannon and Dave https://my.52cues.com/posts/105573210 Live Feedback and Critiques (Thursday) https://my.52cues.com/posts/105502851 Hip-Hop Tension #2 (Part 2) | Composing Livestream https://my.52cues.com/posts/104215491 Uplifting Indie Pop Tasking | Final Submissions https://my.52cues.com/posts/104143332 Minimal Percussion Dramedy | Brief Info & Cue Review Session https://my.52cues.com/posts/105462573 Throwback Hip-Hop for RRHOT | Submission Round https://my.52cues.com/events/throwback-hip-hop-for-rrhot-submission-round Understanding Library Contracts | Workshop https://my.52cues.com/posts/106066053 Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com It'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!

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #281

  I Wrote 8 Cues in a Week and Didn’t Burn Out

  Aug 13, 202627 minS2026

  In this episode, Dave reflects on what he learned from spending an entire week focused almost exclusively on writing music, and how simplicity, flow state, and avoiding constant context switching helped him finish eight cues without feeling completely burned out. What this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OgxxwlznTWg 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 ! Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com It'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!

  ListenShow Notes
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  52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

  What's going on this week at 52 Cues? | 2026 Week 32

  Aug 10, 202612 min

  Weekly Feedback - Week 32 https://my.52cues.com/posts/weekly-feedback-weekly-feedback-week-32 Office Hours https://my.52cues.com/posts/103906733 Q&A and Cue Review with Chuck Henry (10 West Music) https://my.52cues.com/events/qa-and-cue-review-with-chuck-henry-10-west-music Live Feedback and Critiques (Tuesday) https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-105502734 A Little Chat with Shannon and Dave https://my.52cues.com/events/a-little-chat-with-shannon-and-dave-105573156 Live Feedback and Critiques (Thursday) https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-105502820 Hip-Hop Tension #2 | Composing Livestream https://my.52cues.com/events/hip-hop-tension-2-composing-livestream Uplifting Indie Pop Tasking | Revision Round https://my.52cues.com/posts/104143305 Throwback Hip-Hop for RRHOT | Submission Round https://my.52cues.com/events/throwback-hip-hop-for-rrhot-submission-round Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com It'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!

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #280

  Have You Outgrown Your Composer Workflow?

  Aug 6, 202639 minS2026

  In this episode, Dave talks with Pibox founder and CEO Ivan Talaichuk about the point where Dropbox, email, and spreadsheets stop being enough and what production music composers can learn from the way professional music teams manage feedback, revisions, cue versions, and collaboration. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5p2apQqacwU Find out more about Pibox: https://pibox.com 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 ! Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com It'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!

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on 52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

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