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Let’s Talk Metadata
Wrangling keywords and mood terms across spreadsheets, PDFs, and submission forms, can feel pretty soul sucking at times, but metadata just may be the most important part of the life of a cue!
On today’s show, I go over the most common type metadata found in libraries and give you some of my strategies that could mean the difference between getting placed or getting passed over.
Featured Composer: Gun-Britt Sundstedt
Gun-Britt Sundstedt has a small music studio in Stockholm, Sweden. She worked in an architectural office for 40 years, and painted pictures and had exhibitions for 20 years. Now, she just wants to learn more about making music. Her paintings become record covers for her songs!
Creativity Using Live
On today’s show, I welcome composer, educator, and certified Ableton Live guru, Christina Horn, who talks about how she uses the non-linear and expansive capabilities of Live to unlock her creativity, and how she relishes in breaking through stereotypes.
Featured Composer: Alex B
Alex B is a pop, lofi and hip-hop composer and producer from Brazil who has been active in his home country's independent music scene since the early 2000's.
His music is packed with emotional performances, expressive guitar licks and mellow keys, all blended in passionately crafted sonic atmospheres. He finds inspiration in a variety of contemporary artists, like Mondo Loops, Steven Beddall, FKJ, Tom Misch and classic Brazilian icons such as Tom Jobim, Djavan and Ed Motta.
A Chat with ReelCrafter
Household-name businesses are run by real people with a real passion to help others. I chat with Sam Hulick & Sara Pocius about their story ReelCrafter features, future, and maybe even what I got wrong. Plus this week’s featured composer, Daniel Rose!
Featured Composer: Daniel Rose
Daniel Rose is an aspiring composer and producer looking to build a career producing music for film and video games.
Rose has always loved it when he is able to tell who scored a film while watching a movie. While he attended Full Sail University, Dave Kropf introduced him to the world of Production Music. He began to explore production music as a parallel lane that laid very close to my passions and aspirations. He is now using this new lane to build his career as a composer.
The 10 Commandments of Production Music
So much of this gig is frustratingly inconsistent! But I’ve found there are some overarching guidelines which can help govern a lot of our choices. In this episode, I share my 10 Commandments of Production Music! Plus this week’s Featured Composer, Mojo X!
Featured Composer: Mojo X
Mojo X writes an impressive throw-back to the golden age of Broadway.
Featured Composer: Dex Williams
Dex Williams began composing for libraries in 2017, with the help of a friend. He’s earned placements on BBC Springwatch, Housewives of Atlanta, Police Interceptors, and more. He is a classically trained on clarinet and saxophone, and loves to play piano by ear. His musical interests are varied, and he incorporates rock, funk, metal, and blues into his work. He particularly enjoys writing orchestral hybrid music.
Dex is looking forward to focusing his efforts with the support of the 52 Cues Cues Community.
Is One Cue Per Week Really Enough?
I’ve said before that you need 100’s of cues to make a living in the production music industry, but is one cue per week really enough? Today I’m going to unpack and illustrate how productivity and output might not be the linear journey we think it is.
We’ll take a listen to “Waltz of Shame,” the latest submission in my “Year of Taxi” and check in on any forwards or returns.
Featured Composer: Rolf Schild
Rolf Schild is an experienced composer/producer from Germany. He started composing music in 1976 after founding his first band. He’s been composing ever since.
Influenced by the orchestral and fusion bands from the 70's and by his education on classical guitar, his music comprises a huge variety of genres and styles. in 1996, Rolf started to produce music with DAW. He enjoys writing production music and has placements on ABC and hulu.
Read the @#$%& Brief! (Anatomy of a Taxi Listing)
I’ve started my Year of Taxi, and I thought it’d be a good idea to talk about the anatomy of a brief and discuss how everything we need to know is right there in the listing!
We take a listen to "Entered Into Evidence," the first submission in my Year of Taxi and check in on any forwards or returns.
We also take a listen to a dark, moody EDM cue written by 52 Cues Community Member, Rolf Schild.
Featured Composer: Peter Lepahin
Peter Lepahin is an enthusiastic and easy-going production music composer from Hungary. Lepahin started in the DAW in 2020. Since then, he’s signed two albums and is planning to make a living out of production music—while of course enjoying the process and composing!
2022 in Review (and What Comes Next!)
We’ve come to the end of another year here at 52 cues, and it’s been a great one with lots of growth, opportunities, and challenges. So this week I wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2022, talk about some of the wins and losses, and look forward to what’s ahead for 2023!
Getting Into Game Music | With Adam Fligsten
I’m curious about game music! I chat with Adam Fligsten, founder of the music production company Silen Audio, about his journey from production music to game music, and how the library and game music worlds overlap.
Featured Composer: Paul Croteau
Paul Croteau has traveled the world as a freelance sideman on saxophone and sometimes playing keyboards. In 2015 his career shifted from performing to composing, and his music is now used by at least 50 different tv shows across 30 countries.
Happy Holidays!
Holiday Schedule
December 19-22: All the usual 52 Cues Events, Coaching, and Feedback Videos are available.
December 23-30: We'll be celebrating Christmas & spending time in family. Time for some rest, some video games, and some self-care! You can still book coaching sessions or feedback videos for the new year.
January 2: We're back, refreshed and ready to tackle the new year!
Bebop Killed Jazz | With Shannon Kropf
On this week's episode, I welcome our resident music historian, Shannon Kropf, to discuss the rise of jazz's popularity, the cultural reasons it formed the way it did, how bebop musicians played a big role in its ultimate demise, and what lessons are to be learned for us production music composers.
52 Cues Members Make Air on CBS!
Two 52 Cues members made the CBS Sports broadcasts over the weekend. Both of these tracks were submitted through a 52 Cues Workshop calling for sports cues. Congrats Michael Sinay and Steven Beddall!
Featured Composer: Leo Voin
Leo Voin has been focusing on video game music, and he’s ready to up his production music game! Check out KatzUndMaus, a dramedy cue he shared last week with the 52 Cues community.