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Life-Giving Goals
Let’s be real: we all have commitments and deadlines that we need to meet. We all have to do stuff we don’t absolutely love, and there are occasions where the SMART-style goal is a fantastic tool to use. But when the majority of our most important goals are life-giving and centered around real-life desires and visions, real progress and real transformations happen.
Featured Composer: Omar Blyde
This track is from Blyde’s album “Orchestral Fantasy.” Have a listen to the track and check out Dave’s feedback!
Left vs Right Brain Thinking for Composers
Our cognitive processes are generally divided into the two hemispheres of our brain. The “left brain” is analytical and logical. The “right brain” houses imagination and intuition. Let’s explore the intersection of neuroscience and composition!
Featured Composer: Jerome Detotto
A lifelong music lover and musician, Jerome performed in nightclubs with rock cover bands in the 1980s. Though he no longer performs live, he continues to write and record music in his home studio. Jerodet Music was created to market his original compositions to the TV and film industry. His music ranges from quirky pop to EDM to orchestral/synth hybrid, and much in between.
How Gaming Makes Me a Better Composer
As a lifelong gamer, I've come to realize that the decades spent leveling characters, looting corpses, and stomping sentient fungus have led to real, tangible skills that have benefited me as a professional composer.
So today, we’re going unpack 5 ways in which gaming can help your career in production music!
Coping with Crisis Mode
Crisis Mode goes into effect when unexpected events—like a family emergency or an intense work period—demand immediate attention, forcing everything else to fall away. These are the moments when our bodies are on constant high-alert, fueled by adrenaline and anxiety.
Overcoming and Avoiding Burnout
Dave Kropf discusses avoiding burnout in music composition, coping with burnout when it happens, plus self-care and wellness strategies. Learn to deal with strict clients, the repetitive nature of production music, competition, rejection, and more.
PROs Explained
There are a lot of moving parts to getting paid when your music gets placed on TV and as production music composers, the majority of the money we make depends on backend royalties managed by PROs or Performing Rights Organizations.
So on today's episode, I examine the role of PROs, what they do, how they operate, and how they determine how much you get paid.
The Other Three Agreements
The author, Don Miguel Ruiz, explains that we make “agreements” (or ways of being) with ourselves and others based on what we've learned throughout our lives. These agreements can either uplift us or hold us back. And the four agreements mentioned in the book are practical and powerful.
Featured Placement: “Course Record with Michael Breed”
52 Cues Family member Jesse Carrigan got broadcast time on CBS Sports Course Record with Michael Breed!
Jesse is a Bend, Oregon-based producer, songwriter, and singer whose work focuses on rock genres. His unique, smooth tenor both stands out from the crowd and draws comparisons to legends like Aaron Neville and Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire). Jesse's varied musical background and multi-instrumental talents enable him to go wherever the song leads.
5 Ways the 80/20 Rule Can Boost Your Career in Production Music
The 80/20 rule, or “Pareto Principle,” is a concept that states that 80% of the outcomes in life can be attributed to 20% of causes, and as it turns out, this principle can also be applied to our development as composers.
On this week’s episode, we unpack 5 ways to use this 80/20 rule to boost our careers in production music, as well as talk about some pitfalls to watch out for if this all goes sideways.
Featured Composer: Kris Claerhout
Kris Claerhout began his "sync" adventure at the beginning of the pandemic, finding great enjoyment in it—and earning a modest income as well. Kris is also a label manager and booking agent.
Kontakt Behind-The-Scenes with Jon Meyer!
Join special guest Jon Meyer (Merge Production Music, Atomica Music, YouTube), as he gives a behind-the-scenes tour of his brand new Soft Drums sample instrument in Kontakt!
He'll show his process, talk best practices, and take your questions!
Featured Composer: Harley Toberman
Harley Toberman, also known as Toby Tune, is a versatile music artist whose career began at age 12. His musical range is broad, encompassing genres such as pop, jazz, comedy, trailers, children's music, classical, and Lo Fi. His most recent project is a 10 cut album of Lo Fi Chill music.
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.
Be Impeccable with Your Word
I transformed from being sarcastic and judgy to happier, saner, and more peaceful—and guess what? It improved my relationships, allowed people to trust me, and opened doors for career advancement and entrepreneurial enterprise!
Featured Composer: Dolfo Picanco
Picanco is a high school band teacher and life-long music maker. He’s been been composing and arranging for years, and is now investing in the creation and production of his own music.
Dolfo submitted Crush ’em All to the Community to get some feedback. It’s his first venture at a stomp/clap, though he has lots of experience with rock tunes. He mentioned that the cue still needs mastering work to clean up some 60 cycle hum. He asked for feedback specifically on structure, the level of interest it keeps, and thoughts on the stomp clap sounds.
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!
You Can't Control Everything
In this video, Dave discusses the importance of maintaining a flexible mindset and controlling our reactions when faced with unexpected changes or challenging situations. Dave emphasizes the need to focus on personal growth and positivity—rather than anger and negativity—in order to diffuse potential conflicts and foster a more harmonious environment. By practicing patience and self-awareness, individuals can prevent toxic situations from affecting their well-being and overall outlook on life.
A Little Chat with Shannon: Healthy Communication
It’s essential to be mindful of the tone and approach we use in our communications, especially when dealing with sensitive topics. When we remember that behind every conflict is a real, living-and-breathing person, it’s easier to be respectful and open to hearing what that person has to say. In turn, this opens the door for more open and honest conversations, ultimately leading to better understanding and collaboration.