Advertise on podcast: 52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

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 Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte - https://amzn.to/4rxRIQ6 Essentialism by Greg McKeown - https://amzn.to/46ngzhj Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky - https://amzn.to/3ZmgvKX 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.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!

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! 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.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!

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! 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.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!

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! 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.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!

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.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!

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.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!

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! 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.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!

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! 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.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!

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 https://www.instagram.com/farnellnewton Farnell's Book on Sync - https://syncyoursound.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! 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.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!

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! 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.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!

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. Plus, we’ll take a listen to my latest hip-hop dramedy cue, "Resting Witch Face." 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! 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.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!

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 https://warnerchappellpm.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! 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.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!

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 https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ascap-bmi-and-socan-will-now-accept-registrations-of-partially-ai-generated-musical-works/  https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/can-ai-generated-content-be-copyrighted-heres-what-a-new-report-from-the-us-copyright-office-says1/ https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/germanys-gema-launches-ai-charter-laying-out-legal-and-ethical-principles-for-artificial-intelligence-in-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! 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.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!

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.  Plus, we listen to another tension cue for Shark Week on Discovery! 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! 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.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!

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. Plus we listen to a new investigative tension cue for Shark Week on Discovery! 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! 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.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!