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What Makes a "Good" Cue? | 52 Cues Podcast, 2024 Week 34
In this episode, Dave unpacks the essential elements that make a cue truly stand out in the competitive world of production music. He explores the often-overlooked qualities that can elevate one cue above another and the fundamental components that every professional cue must have.
5 Career Lessons I Learned from Star Wars
In this episode, Dave Kropf explores lessons from Star Wars that can be applied to production and library music. He discusses the importance of using references effectively, the developmental journey from novice to expert, and the balance between artistry and commercial viability.
The Habits of Success (with Jelle Dittmar)
Dave Kropf hosts music producer Jelle Dittmar in a dynamic episode of the 52 Cues Podcast. Explore how online networking catapulted Jelle into a major album deal with an LA music library, plus uncover the secrets to forging lasting industry relationships.
Learn about the role of live elements in music production, advances in remote collaboration technology, and Jelle's dedication to mentoring the next generation of talent. Perfect for composers at any stage, this episode is packed with actionable insights to fuel your musical journey.
Let's Talk Sync Agents (with Chuck Milan)
Explore the vibrant world of music sync with insights from industry expert Chuck Milan in our latest 52 Cues Podcast episode. Discover the roles of sync agents, music publishers, and libraries, and learn valuable tips for making your music stand out for film, TV, and commercials. Gain firsthand knowledge on optimizing song quality, navigating copyright laws, and leveraging social media for sync success. Join us for an enlightening conversation that unveils the secrets to mastering the music sync process and securing lucrative opportunities in the entertainment industry.
From Sample Making to Filmmaking with Jon Meyer
We production music folks tend to have a lot of irons in the fire and I can’t think of a leader in our industry who best embodies this than Jon Meyer (@JonMeyer)!
Jon has just released his brand new Kontakt instrument, Soft Drums, and I wanted to have him on the show to not only talk about that, but also, to share how he balances so many creative outlets - from music making to sample making to filmmaking.
Production Music Q&A
Dive into the world of production and library music with Dave Kropf on the 52 Cues podcast. This episode covers mastering alts and stems, AI tools, pitching to libraries, choosing sounds for cues, backend royalties, finding references, mastering dynamic tracks, panning practices, using samples, placements in PRO catalogs, transition music, and learning sample libraries.
Explore the ins and outs of being a working production music composer!
Album Accelerator Launching March 2023!
52 Cuess Album Accelerator a self-paced experience which guide you through the entire process of creating a production music album ready for library usage. We’ll cover:
Coming up with an album concept
Finding inspiration for composing your cues
Navigating project management and deliverables
Finding libraries who need what you're best at writing
At the end of Album Accelerator, you’ll have a private Review and Strategy Session with Dave Kropf. We'll go over your album and set you on the path towards success.
Do We Really Need a Web Presence?
How big a factor is luck in our careers? On today’s episode we turn to the research of Dr. Richard Wiseman, Professor of Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, and we examine the 4 Principles of Luck and discuss how they might apply to us as production music composers.
What’s Luck Got to do with It?
How big a factor is luck in our careers? On today’s episode we turn to the research of Dr. Richard Wiseman, Professor of Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, and we examine the 4 Principles of Luck and discuss how they might apply to us as production music composers.
Make Your Publisher’s Job Easy (Chat with Michael Laskow)
When we pitch our cues to libraries, we want to make the process as smooth and painless as possible, so on today’s episode, I sit down and chat with Michael Laskow,@TAXI Independent A&R, who works with publishers every day, and we discuss what we composers can do to reduce friction when it comes to getting our music into libraries.
How is Production Music Different Than Film Music?
There are some key differences that separate production music from other careers like film music, game music, and even songwriting, and today I want to discuss what really separates production music from other music for film, tv, games, and advertising.
Will Artificial Intelligence Ever Replace Composers?
Why do we get such anxiety over how technology and AI might one day make us all obsolete? To help us understand why we might get so wound up about the threat of technology, I thought it’d be a good idea to get an historical perspective, so I welcome back Mrs. 52 Cues herself, Shannon Kropf, who takes us on multiple centruries-long journey to show us that technological apprehension is nothing new!
52 Cues Production Derby Kickoff!
The theme for this derby is "Christmas in July" and you'll have just 48 hours to create a brand new cue…
…BUT…
…the details and brief won't be revealed until the kickoff event on Friday, July 29th at 12p ET!
You'll have just 48 hrs to write, mix, master, and deliver a brand new cue. Are YOU ready for the challenge?
Catch Dave on the “Make Music Income” Podcast!
With the regular co-host off getting hitched, I was happy to pinch-hit over on the “Make Music Income” Podcast with Eric Copeland! On this episode, I talk all about how music education can be a great source of income for composers and musicians, as long as you have the energy and patience for it!
The Global Royalty Machine: Ins, Outs, and Oportunities
Collecting royalties around the globe involves a vast network of sub-publishers, PROs, MCOs, administrators, integrated licensing hubs, and more. Join us for an in-depth roundtable discussion to learn more about what these different service providers do, what income streams they manage, and how to best utilize them to maximize your royalties beyond U.S. borders.
All About the Production Music Association
I sit down and chat with the executive director of the Production Music Association, Morgan McKnight. She answers questions about the organization, what the PMA does for composers in the business!
Never Say Never! (Or Always)
It seems like a lot of professionals in the music industry like to deal in absolutes, so on today's episode I thought it’d be a good idea to talk about why we should probably get rid of absolute words like "never" and "always" from our production music vocabulary.
Making Music Income
This week, Dave talks with Eric Copeland from Make Music Income. Eric’s mission is to help other composers find the many ways they can support a career in music.