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...
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.b...
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. Star...
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 ...
In this episode, Sam Hulick and Sara Pocius from ReelCrafter return to talk about the brand-new ReelCrafter 2.5 update, what’s new under the hood, and how it helps composers pitch smarter and present their music professionally. Plus, we’re unveiling a new feature for the Friends and Family of 52 Cues! Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/qeE7b2WqcN8 https://www.reelcrafter.com/52cues Use code 52CUESSA for your first 2 months free! Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCra...
In this episode, we’re unpacking tasking cues – the music that underscores moments of focus, pacing, and process in reality TV and beyond. We’ll talk about what makes them work, where they’re used, and break down one of my own inside the DAW. Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/wzAwYf4O9x8 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/5...
In this episode, I unpack what it really means to write an editor-friendly cue. We’ll look at the six essentials that reduce friction in the edit bay and I'll walk through a Shark Week investigation cue I recently wrote and put it to the test. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2FoaMZuqekk 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/5...
In this episode, I unpack my approach to writing melodies that really work inside production music cues. I walk through how I build motivic ideas, how modes shape the emotional color of a phrase, and how static melodies can create forward motion without getting in the way. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mTf90xoGIdc 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 ...
In this episode, I share a simple framework I created to help composers break down and study reference cues. You’ll learn how to listen for the musical elements that shape mood and emotion and how to extract those details so you can use them as a blueprint for your own cues! Plus we check out a new Trip Hop crime tension cue, "Hard of Red Herring." Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/U-tL_t2OvBw Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch...
In this episode, I share practical tips for navigating music conferences without feeling overwhelmed. From what to bring and how to prepare, to approaching networking in a way that builds real connections at events like PMC, the Taxi Road Rally, or any industry gathering! Plus, we listen to a new ominous intrigue cue, "Shanks for the Memories." Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k0NGPyYsMrU Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your...
In this episode, we’re unpacking investigative tension cues – those cerebral, clue-assembling moments that show up everywhere from crime and dating shows and house hunting reveals. Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/yMJaUS776yQ 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 soundscap...
In this episode, Mrs. 52 Cues joins me to talk about our recent vacation that started with noisy cabins, wrong turns, and even a dropped pizza. But somewhere between the chaos, the hang gliders, and the quiet mountain mornings, we discovered some unexpected lessons about life and what it means to be a composer. Plus, we take a listen to an Italian-infused hip-hop comedy cue, "Leave the Cannoli." Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/Kj4DX4IoxrM Support for the 52 Cues Podcast ...
In this episode, I show how the French cooking concept of mise en place can streamline your cue-writing process. You’ll learn five practical steps to get organized, work faster, and hit deadlines – plus, I feature my dark, ominous tension cue, "From Inside the House." Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/VB8Jy_jHLo0 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 tr...
In this week’s episode, I compare learning a new DAW to learning a new language – and share where I’m at in my own journey toward “speaking” Ableton Live fluently. Plus, I feature a new reggaeton-meets-comedy hip hop cue. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pEN_lE0HZyo 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 S...
In this episode, I’m joined by band director and composer Brandon Psenicka, whose eerie reimagining of the classic graduation march – complete with creepy vocals from his own daughter – took first place in our recent Composer Quest! Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/OFSRYuqc6TI https://brandonpsenickamusic.com https://www.jwpepper.com/s?q=psenicka&fuzzy=0&operator=and&facets=fuzzy%2Coperator&sort=score_desc&page=0 Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from Re...
In this episode, I’m playing submissions from our latest Composer Quest – “A Whole New Light,” and then we open things up for a live Q&A. We talk stems and deliverables, SoundCloud ads, mastering workflow tips, library contracts, and even whether or not you should leave your computer on overnight. Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/H9uHTZcDNg4 Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly whe...
In today’s episode, we’re talking about the unexpected breakdowns that threaten to bring your entire creative process to a halt. Plus, Dave features “Thoughts and Prayers,” a recent ominous tension cue written for a documentary. Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/SHb9GCqSlyg 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 S...
In this episode, I’m again leaning into my professor side to break down one of the most widely used styles in production music: light tension. From tasking and corporate cues to investigative and true crime textures, we’re unpacking the entire light tension spectrum. Plus, I feature one of my latest hip hop comedy cues, "Cat Gotye Tongue." Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/dbivibZBwac Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your produ...
In this week's episode, you're invited into Professor Dave’s classroom as I break down the sync music terms every composer should know – but might’ve been too embarrassed to ask. From PROs to button endings, we’re clearing up the jargon. Plus, I share a no-pizzicato dramedy waltz from my latest Discovery album. Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/aV1txmoFwCA Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly...
In this episode, I explore one simple, yet powerful way to make your cues stand out in a world where AI is getting better by the minute. Using my latest dramedy cue, “Of Mice and Mensa,” as a real-world example, I unpack a creative habit that adds realism, nuance, and authenticity – giving your music an edge the machines just can’t match. Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/gp_vsawIZL8 Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your produ...