Explore every episode of the podcast 52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How My Didgeridoo Landed on The Bachelor | 29 oct. 2026 | 00:31:21 | |
In this episode, Dave breaks down "Outback Intrigue," an Australian-inspired tension cue featuring the didgeridoo that landed on ABC's The Bachelor, sharing how he built the arrangement, created tension, and why delivering stems proved so valuable! Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NV1_df83aV8 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 | |||
| Is There Still Money in Sync in 2026? | 22 oct. 2026 | 00:54:24 | |
In this episode, Dave and Jeff explore whether there's still money to be made in sync in 2026, comparing royalties from network sports, cable TV, streaming, and advertising while discussing upfront fees, building a profitable music catalog, and the long-term strategies composers need to succeed. Watch this episode on YouTube 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 | |||
| Can Production Music Prepare You for Film Scoring? | 15 oct. 2026 | 00:43:13 | |
In this episode, production music composer and 52 Cues community mentor Mary Shaw shares what she learned during five months at Michael Whittaker's Scorecraft Academy, including which production music skills translate to film scoring, which habits she had to unlearn, and how the experience changed her approach to writing music. Michael Whittaker's YouTube Channel 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 | |||
| Reviewing Your Cues LIVE | 01 oct. 2026 | 02:01:30 | |
In this special live episode of the 52 Cues Podcast, I’m reviewing cues submitted by members of the 52 Cues community and giving real-time feedback on what’s working, what could be stronger, and how each cue might be made more useful for production and library music. Get feedback on your own cues! 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 | |||
| What I Listen For When Reviewing Cues | 24 sept. 2026 | 00:24:40 | |
In this episode, Dave reviews a production music cue from composer and bassist Elysa Tancheff, breaking down what he listens for in arrangement, energy, edit points, mix, and library usability. 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 | |||
| The Unwritten Rules of Sync | 17 sept. 2026 | 01:05:01 | |
In this episode, Dave and 52 Cues community mentor Jeff LaPlante unpack the unwritten rules of production music, from pitching and follow-up etiquette to rejection, deadlines, contracts, collaborations, and deliverables. 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 | |||
| The Non-Negotiables of Production Music Genres | 10 sept. 2026 | 01:28:36 | |
In this episode Dave and 52 Cues community mentor Jeff LaPlante break down the non-negotiable sounds, arranging choices, and production techniques behind dramedy, tension, hip-hop, pop, rock, emotional, holiday, country, and vocal cues. 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 | |||
| How Much Music Theory Does a Producer Really Need? (with Dr. Tim Stulman) | 03 sept. 2026 | 00:53:16 | |
In this episode, Dave talks with Dr. Tim Stulman, Program Director for Music Production at Full Sail University and creator of Keyboard Kafe, about how much music theory producers really need, why basic keyboard and ear-training skills can reduce friction in the creative process, and how a little practical musicianship can go a long way when writing production music. Check out Keyboard Kafé and get 3 months free! 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 | |||
| How Would You Start a Composing Career in 2026 (with Anne-Kathrin Dern)? | 27 août 2026 | 00:46:52 | |
In this episode, film and game composer Anne-Kathrin Dern joins Dave to talk about how she’d start a composing career in 2026, including the differences between film, games, and production music, the changing role of composer assistants, and the practical steps she’d take to break into the industry today. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/49hI7_Ch81w https://annedern-filmcomposer.com We Asked Anne-Kathrin Dern About Her Brutal Composer Advice | 52 Cues Podcast #282 How Hard Is it to Make a Living in Production Music? | 52 Cues Podcast #278 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 | |||
| We Asked Anne-Kathrin Dern About Her Brutal Composer Advice | 20 août 2026 | 00:44:48 | |
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 How Hard Is it to Make a Living in Production Music? | 52 Cues Podcast #278 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 | |||
| I Wrote 8 Cues in a Week and Didn’t Burn Out | 13 août 2026 | 00:27:04 | |
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 | |||
| Have You Outgrown Your Composer Workflow? | 06 août 2026 | 00:39:20 | |
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. Find out more about Pibox: 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 | |||
| Is Production Music Worth It in 2026? | 23 juil. 2026 | 01:07:20 | |
In part two of their response to Anne-Kathrin Dern's brutally honest career advice, Jeff and Dave look at the money, the workload, the lifestyle, and the growing guru culture, to answer the question every production music composer eventually has to face: is production music worth it? Watch this episode on YouTube: 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 | |||
| How Hard Is it to Make a Living in Production Music? | 16 juil. 2026 | 00:54:44 | |
In this episode, Dave and Jeff use Anne-Kathrin Dern’s recent composer reality-check video as a jumping off point to discuss how hard it really is to make a living in production music. Watch this episode on YouTube A Rant About Brutally Honest Career Advice by Anne-Kathrin Dern 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 | |||
| How Sketching Makes Writing Cues Easier | 09 juil. 2026 | 00:42:50 | |
In this episode, community mentor Jeff Hargrove explains why a simple piano sketch can make writing cues easier before production takes over. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xXiCWzwo3TU Be sure to join us for Jeff's free Sketch to Screen Workshop, July 13 at 4p ET! 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 | |||
| Our Most-Used Plugins for Production Music | 02 juil. 2026 | 01:02:26 | |
In this episode, Dave and community mentor Jeff LaPlante share their most-used instruments, tools, plugins, and effects to help production music composers build a dependable toolkit without wasting money on plugins you might not really need. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_pIAgPHp760 PLUGINS, SOUNDS, AND LIBRARIES DISCUSSED SOUNDS AND LIBRARIES Omnisphere The Unfinished Omnisphere Soundsets Splice Serato Sample The Fame Series: Modern Pop ProjectSAM Symphobia Native Instruments Komplete EFFECTS Melodyne Logic Pro Sample Delay Logic Pro Stereo Delay Logic Pro Compressor Fender Studio Pro X-Trem HONORABLE MENTIONS Vienna Synchron Stage Reverb Waves TrueVerb Soundtoys Little AlterBoy Soundtoys MicroShift The God Particle 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 | |||
| How to Learn Orchestration Without Feeling Overwhelmed | 25 juin 2026 | 00:49:03 | |
In this episode, Philip Johnston returns to explain how Orchestration Recipes makes complex concepts more practical, what Volume 6 brings to everyday orchestral writing, and where AI may fit into the future of composition and virtual performance. 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 | |||
| Your Cue Got Accepted! Don't Blow the Deliverables. | 18 juin 2026 | 01:11:32 | |
In this episode Dave and community mentor Jeff LaPlante break down production music deliverables, including mixes, stems, cutdowns, file naming, metadata, loudness, and the common mistakes that can make an accepted cue harder for libraries and editors to use. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yIXUIyolKRk 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 | |||
| Dave Answers Your Production Music Questions | 12 juin 2026 | 01:13:15 | |
In this episode, Dave answers your production music questions including generative AI, following up with libraries, pitching albums professionally, recovering exclusive cues, building a sustainable sync catalog, and why the tools you use matter when revisions and deliverables are part of the job. 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 | |||
| Inside a 52 Cues Cue Breakdown | 04 juin 2026 | 00:34:00 | |
In this episode, Dave pulls back the curtain on 52 Cues with a look inside a cue breakdown, showing how composition, structure, arrangement, and production choices all work together in a finished cue. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YfOLFtiPIig 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 | |||
| Is Using Loops "Lazy?" | 28 mai 2026 | 00:51:47 | |
In this episode, Dave and Jeff discuss whether loops and samples are lazy, how samples can be transformed into original production music cues, and why legal usage still doesn’t always protect you from Content ID headaches or library concerns. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PFoHpTAsHbo 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 | |||
| Brutally Honest Advice from a Library CEO (Chuck Henry, 10 West Music) | 21 mai 2026 | 00:49:04 | |
In this episode Chuck Henry, founder and CEO of 10 West Music, shares brutally honest advice for production music composers on pitching libraries, preparing clean deliverables, avoiding lazy loop usage, and writing cues that actually serve editors and supervisors. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4m7ZUa0aPaw Links: 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 | |||
| Stop Pitching and Start Building Relationships | 14 mai 2026 | 00:53:35 | |
In this episode, Dave and community mentor Greg Fellman share five practical networking tips for production music composers, from building real relationships to following up and being ready when opportunities show up. Denver Composers Collective - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433710441750662 Sync Meetup Austin - https://www.facebook.com/syncatx Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MAHozCY7fRk 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 | |||
| Can AI Help Get Your Cues Signed? (with Alan Lazar) | 07 mai 2026 | 00:54:05 | |
In this episode, I’m joined by composer, library owner, and PMA vice chair Alan Lazar to talk about ethical AI, production music submissions, and whether tools like TrackTrove.ai can help human composers get their cues heard. https://tracktrove.ai Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FatgvGSr9_s 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 | |||
| Composers, You Need a Second Brain | 30 avr. 2026 | 00:39:09 | |
In this episode, Dave is joined by 52 Cues mentor Mary Shaw to talk about building a “second brain” for composers, getting ideas and tasks out of your head, and creating systems that help future-you stay focused, organized, and more productive. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z9xOGoM7CnQ Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte: https://amzn.to/42GFZEg 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 | |||
| Why Good Music Isn’t Enough in Sync | 23 avr. 2026 | 00:49:36 | |
In this episode, Dave and Jeff LaPlante talk about the non-musical skills that can make a huge difference in the sync business. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7ARhc9dohm4 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 | |||
| Stop Using Spreadsheets for Metadata with Cuemonic | 16 avr. 2026 | 00:40:23 | |
In this episode, Dave is joined by Jesse Carrigan to talk about Cuemonic, the metadata tool he’s building for composers and publishers, and why this unglamorous part of the business matters more than most of us realize. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lRdh5l8OhxM Use code 52CUESPOD and get 1 month free each year you stay subscribed to Cuemonic, which means 12 months for the price of 11. 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 | |||
| Inside the Production Pipeline of Warner Chappell | 09 avr. 2026 | 00:44:33 | |
In this episode, Dave sits down with Warner Chappell Production Music’s Dave Milne to talk about what libraries really look for in composers, how the production pipeline works behind the scenes, and what it takes to turn great cues into truly usable, professional music for clients. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PvFd3b2yT78 https://www.davemilnemusic.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 | |||
| What It Takes to Score a Network Game Show | 26 mars 2026 | 00:57:58 | |
In this episode, I’m talking with Timothy Andrew Edwards and Tim Mosher about how they landed the music for Nate Bargatze’s Greatest Average American and what it really takes to score a network game show. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dP71SNhtENo Greatest Average American on ABC: https://abc.com/show/a0f061ad-bc3e-49f4-926f-40f80f8c7090 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 | |||
| How Do You Actually Go Full-Time in Production Music? | 19 mars 2026 | 01:01:13 | |
In this episode Dave is joined by Steven McDonald to talk about how he went from posting music on YouTube to landing major placements, why he writes fast and doesn’t throw ideas away, and the honest truth about the freedom, pressure, and discipline it takes to make this work for real. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WqfsFl0hLrY https://www.stevenmcdonaldmusic.com/music 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 | |||
| The Biggest Sync Mistakes We’ve Ever Made | 12 mars 2026 | 00:57:37 | |
In this episode, Dave and Jeff LaPlante share some of the biggest sync mistakes they’ve made, from technical blunders and bad deals to mindset traps and missed opportunities. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iR7q0SAklBQ 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 | |||
| What Non-Drummers Get Wrong About Programming Drums | 06 mars 2026 | 01:02:03 | |
In this episode, Dave is joined by community ambassador and drum educator Michael Reschke to break down the biggest mistakes non-drummers make when programming drums. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qMSUlzL6iZA Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelreschke1 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 | |||
| How Do Composers Find New Libraries? | 27 févr. 2026 | 01:00:23 | |
In this episode, Dave and Jeff break down practical strategies for finding new production music libraries, building relationships, and pitching in a way that gets you taken seriously in the sync industry. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kMeLqJJlOYI 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 | |||
| TV Composer Reviews Your Production Music Cues Live! | 20 févr. 2026 | 01:26:53 | |
In this episode I review cues from the 52 Cues Community! Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/1hgYh8PZaRg 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 | |||
| Let's Talk Trailer Music (with Randon Purcell) | 13 févr. 2026 | 01:00:47 | |
In this episode, trailer composer Randon Purcell breaks down what it actually takes to write modern trailer music, from massive structure and signature sounds to trends, placements, and surviving in a saturated market.
Brand X Music x Fallout Music Group Composer Competition Brand X Music is launching a brand-new composer competition in collaboration with Fallout Music Group and they're looking for fun, snappy, modern promo cues built around Fallout’s new Promo Horns instrument and sound pack. Up to 3 winning tracks will be selected for a future Brand X Music album. Submission Guidelines:
Grab Promo Horns here: Submit your cue to: info@falloutmusicgroup.com Winners will be notified via email and announced on social media. 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 | |||
| Do I Just Suck at Workflow? | 05 févr. 2026 | 00:52:53 | |
In this episode, me and 52 Cues mentor Mary Shaw unpack why “bad workflow” is often a misdiagnosis and how simple project management tools can make writing and delivering cues feel far more doable. Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/kEP9Ixeesfg Getting Things Done by David Allen - https://amzn.to/49ZFIRB 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 | |||
| What New Composers Get Wrong About Sync | 29 janv. 2026 | 01:04:15 | |
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/RSM5S5sPFpQ 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 | |||
| Building Better Work-Life Balance | 22 janv. 2026 | 00:45:04 | |
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/IVm4dxN1SWQ 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 | |||
| The Production Music Industry Quietly Changed | 15 janv. 2026 | 01:13:17 | |
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/6gPapVS1b5o 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 | |||
| Your Influences Are Louder Than You Think | 08 janv. 2026 | 00:55:37 | |
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! Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com | |||
| I Wrote Fewer Cues in 2025. Should I Be Worried? | 01 janv. 2026 | 01:23:13 | |
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! Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.com | |||
| I Use The Same Mixing Method on Every Cue | 19 déc. 2025 | 00:52:00 | |
In this episode, I walk through my entire mixing and mastering process from beginning to end using a real indie pop cue as the example. We zoom out and talk about building a repeatable, genre-agnostic approach to mixing that helps you work faster, trust your decisions, and get consistent results across any type of cue. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2qh9iEGdERQ 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 | |||
| Office Hours with Prof. Dave | 12 déc. 2025 | 01:15:41 | |
In this episode, Dave opens up live office hours for an Ask Me Anything session. Topics range from PRO royalties and cue output expectations to writing tension versus upbeat cues, epic versus non-epic styles, synth tools, sample libraries, monitoring setups, and sustainable work life balance as a composer. 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 | |||
| Inside the A&R Mind (with Farnell Newton) | 04 déc. 2025 | 01:00:10 | |
In this episode, I’m joined by trumpeter, educator, and Marmoset A&R lead Farnell Newton for a conversation that tackles some of the biggest pain points composers face in the sync world. We talk about what actually catches an A&R rep’s ear, why organization and deliverables matter just as much as great writing, and how real human performances still rise above the noise in an AI-heavy landscape. Plus, we listen to a new Indie Pop/EDM cue! Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/PGCTF-s3eYE https://farnellnewton.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 | |||
| How to Write True Crime Tension Cues | 20 nov. 2025 | 00:39:19 | |
In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at the true crime corner of the light-tension spectrum where I’ll walk you through the sounds, the pulses, and the gritty textures that push this style right up to the edge of ominous tension. Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/Dc4c5bXRJK0 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 | |||
| I Said This Isn’t Art… Was I Wrong? | 13 nov. 2025 | 00:43:25 | |
In this episode, I revisit the bold 2021 statement that what we do in production music isn’t art and ask if that still holds up in the age of AI. I talk about how technology has shifted the production music world and if the artisan mindset still matters. Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/cU1VJ5S47jQ 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 | |||
| Meet the Exec Who Decides Which Cues Get Used | 06 nov. 2025 | 00:50:21 | |
In this episode I am joined by Emmy and Mark Award–winning composer and Head of Production at Warner Chappell Production Music, Scott Reinwand, and we chat about how composers can stand out in a crowded catalog. Plus we listen to a recent trip hop tension cue, "Remains to Be Seen." Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/ZShsnfsbLzw 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 | |||
| The PROs Say Yes to AI Music. Should You? | 30 oct. 2025 | 00:48:35 | |
In this episode, I unpack what ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN’s new policy on partially AI-generated works means for production music composers. We’ll talk about where the line is between using AI as a creative assistant and letting it compose for you, what this shift means for publishers and libraries, and whether the “stink of AI” will ever really go away. Plus we take a listen to a brooding intrigue cue, "Crisis Me a River." Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/pIELNVxo73Q https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/ascap-bmi-and-socan-announce-alignment-on-ai-registration-policies 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 | |||
| A VIP Tour of 52 Cues | 23 oct. 2025 | 00:50:04 | |
Ever wonder what really goes on inside 52 Cues? In this episode, I’m unpacking how the community works, what each space is for, and how it all ties together to help you grow as a production music composer. Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/GhXZ-toijh0 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 | |||
| Why Conferences Matter (PMC 2025 Recap) | 16 oct. 2025 | 00:53:53 | |
This week, Shannon joins me to unpack her very first Production Music Conference – what it’s really like to meet the 52 Cues community in person, how one simple meetup turned into a full-blown Hollywood party, and why personal connection is still the real currency in this business. Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/8PMrtlhRzpw 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 | |||