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What’s Your Superpower?

What’s Your Superpower?

In this episode of the 52 Cues podcast, we explore "superpowers"—those innate skills that emerge naturally and effortlessly. We talk about recognizing these abilities, understanding their value, and applying them effectively within the production music industry to ensure both success and personal fulfillment in your career!

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The Habits of Success (with Jelle Dittmar)

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.

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I Just Turned 50 and I'm Just Getting Started!

I Just Turned 50 and I'm Just Getting Started!

Join me for my 50th birthday episode as I explore my evolution from aspiring band director to production music composer and educator. I discuss my happy 30-year marriage, career shifts, work-life balance, and personal growth insights.

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Who Writes Those Plugin Demos?

Who Writes Those Plugin Demos?

One of my favorite things to do whenever any new synth, sample set, or patch library comes out is to take a listen to the demos, but who actually puts these demos together, and how do you land that gig?

Well, we are super fortunate to have a very accomplished demo writer right here in the community, and I’m thrilled to welcome Michal Sinay to this week’s episode of the 52 Cues Podcast.

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From Sample Making to Filmmaking with Jon Meyer

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.

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Production Music Q&A

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!

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Do Libraries Owe Us a Response on Returns?

Do Libraries Owe Us a Response on Returns?

Last week I posed a burning question: should libraries reach out to composers whose music was forwarded by Taxi but not selected? This ignited a spirited discussion among composers, publishers, and everyone in between, shared via YouTube comments, our 52 Cues community, DMs, and emails.

Join me this week on the 52 Cues Podcast as we dive deeper into the Taxi debate with their President and CEO, Michael Laskow. We'll uncover the truth behind showbiz rejections, learn how to bounce back from bruised egos, and examine why Taxi-forward success might make make the silence sting that much more.

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Saying the Quiet Parts OUT LOUD! | with Anne-Kathrin Dern

Saying the Quiet Parts OUT LOUD! | with Anne-Kathrin Dern

In this interview, Anne-Kathrin Dern discusses her educational path, her career in film music, and how her YouTube channel seeks to pull back the curtain on the good, the bad, and the ugly in Hollywood show business.

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