Are you a music lover who likes listening to up-and-coming artists and new genres? You can earn money from websites and music apps that pay you to review and rate songs.
I can help you if you want to listen to music for cash but don’t know where or how to start.
I developed a list of the top 15 platforms you can use to get paid to listen to music. I’ll also teach you how to make money listening to music through different platforms and side gigs.
Let’s begin.
Ways To Get Paid To Listen to Music
These are the apps and music websites where you get paid to listen to songs.
Note: Some music platforms require your contact details to receive surveys and questionnaires.
1- Cash4Minutes
Cash4Minutes pays you to make calls and listen to radio programs. All you need is to set up your account and share your contact details, including your landline number. That way, you can receive your tasks.
After registration, you can choose from a list of Internet radio programs, each with a designated number you need to dial to make a review.
The payout period is around 35 days. However, you may need to wait as long as 50 days for international calls.
Cash4minutes listeners earn $0.08 per minute (on average) and cash out through a PayPal account and bank transfer. They also have the option to convert their earnings to Bitcoin and Amazon gift cards. The Amazon gift card’s balance can be transferred to a bank account.
Pros
Available worldwide
The paid tasks are easy and quick.
Cons
Low earning potential
You need to pay for some phone calls.
2- Current Rewards
Current Rewards is an excellent platform for reviewing Internet radio stations and listening to music for cash. It gives points you can redeem for cash via PayPal or gift cards from retailers like Starbucks, Amazon, and iTunes.
Although it’s free to set up your account, using the platform has a caveat: It caps your earnings to $600 (or worth of gift cards) a year.
Aside from listening to music, Current Rewards offers other side hustles.
Make money watching music videos and ads
Play games
Complete surveys
Pros
Free to register
You can record songs from your favorite online radio stations for offline listening.
Multiple ways to earn points
Cons
It caps your annual earnings to $600.
The mobile app may slow your phone down due to lock screen ads.
Low value-per-point rewards
3- Earnably
Do you enjoy watching TV or listening to music? Earn money by checking out Earnably‘s tasks. This paid-to-do website pays you every time you complete assignments you’re eligible for.
The number of points you earn depends on each task. When you reach 225 points, which amount to $2, you can cash them out via PayPal or convert them to Bitcoin or gift cards from around 30 retailers, including Amazon.
Pros
Multiple ways to collect points
Low cash-out requirement
Listening to music is easy thanks to its user-friendly interface.
Free to sign up
Cons
Low earning potential
Difficulty to qualify in some music-related surveys
4- FusionCash
If you want to review music for money, FusionCash is a great place to start because it offers multiple ways to earn, including music-related surveys, focus groups, and reviews.
Alternatively, you can make a few bucks by completing these tasks on this platform:
Shopping online
Taking surveys
Reviewing radio stations
Pros
Affiliate programs pay up to $ 100 per sale
Multiple ways to earn cash
$5 sign-up bonus
Generous referral program
Cons
Only available in the US and Canada
Low earning potential for most tasks
5- Music Gateway
Music Gateway is a UK-based site that helps music artists promote and distribute their songs on popular streaming websites, such as Apple Music, Spotify, and SoundCloud. It also needs professional listeners, or curators, to rate music for money.
According to its website, you can earn up to £800 (or around US$1,000) monthly listening to songs and reviewing music.
Pros
Secure site
Access to new artists and a wide range of music genres
Available worldwide
Cons
Low earning potential
Low acceptance rate
6- Music Xray
Music Xray is a platform that allows musicians to submit and advertise their songs and grow their fanbase. Thus, it needs reviewers who can listen to and rate new tracks, helping artists understand their audience and improve their craft.
The site rewards you $0.10 for each song you review, which you can cash out through PayPal once you accumulate at least $20. Most recordings only last 30 seconds.
Pros
You can earn while supporting new artists and music composers.
Easy way to earn a few bucks
Available worldwide
Cons
Low pay
Only accepts PayPal account
High payout threshold
7- Nielsen
Nielsen is one of the most popular research companies that produce radio and TV ratings. If you like watching videos and listening to music, this survey site is a great place to turn your hobby into a side gig.
While the company does not disclose their payment for participation in surveys, some participants claim to receive $10 each month.
Pros
Listening to music is an interesting side gig.
Nielsen is a reputable company.
After installing the Nielsen app, you get a $50 welcome bonus (via gift cards or PayPal cash).
Cons
You need an invitation to review, rate, and listen to music for money.
Privacy issues
Limited earning opportunities
8- Playlist Push
Playlist Push is an app that pays you to listen to music and make a comprehensive review. Thus, it requires having an excellent ear for music and a flair for writing.
Compared with other platforms that pay users to listen to music, Playlist Push has a more rigorous set of requirements to become an eligible music reviewer.
You must have a public playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music.
You need at least 1,000 followers per playlist.
If you have fewer than 3,000 followers, your playlist should have at least 30 active listeners.
Your playlist should include songs from different genres and decades.
Once you qualify, you can earn between $15 per music review, depending on the number of your listeners and the activities you conduct. You’ll receive your payments via Transferwise or bank transfer.
Pros
Higher potential earnings
Intuitive interface
Instant payout when you write music reviews
Ideal for users with an established TikTok account
Cons
Strict requirements to become a music curator/reviewer
Requires a flair for writing reviews
No mobile app version
9- RadioEarn
RadioEarn is a platform that gives you points to play music and listen to Internet radio stations. You can convert these later into cash, Bitcoin, or Amazon gift cards.
Two ways to earn money from this site are:
Sign up for an account and click the radio link.
Add an API to your website’s homepage.
The second option is better if you have a site with excellent traffic or many followers or subscribers.
RadioEarn gives payouts every month through these payment options:
Amazon gift cards
Bank wire transfers
PayPal
Bitcoin
Pros
Get paid listening to radio programs
Earn points every 15 minutes for listening to music or radio programs
Ideal for someone who enjoys music, news, and other radio content.
Secure site
You can use its API to embed a radio station on your website.
Multiple payment options
Cons
It takes a long time to receive your payment.
Low rewards
Limited earning opportunities
10- Research.fm
When you sign up for a Research.fm account, you’ll receive an email every time you qualify to review music online. You’ll get Amazon gift cards if you accept and complete the task.
The platform is a music research company that helps stations understand their audience, especially their taste. Thus, you must listen to music to provide feedback or complete a survey.
Pros
Easy and interesting surveys
The intuitive mobile app works great on iOS and Android devices.
Cons
You can only receive a payout in the form of Amazon gift cards.
Only available in the US
11- SliceThePie
SliceThePie is a platform that pays you to listen to and review new music tracks. You must share your demographic information to receive music samples based on your personal taste.
After signing up, you’ll receive random song recordings that usually last 60-90 seconds. Next, you have to submit a review and rating.
The amount you earn depends on your star rating and fee. On average, you’ll earn between two and 20 cents per review, which you can cash out once your earnings reach $10.
Pros
Easy to use
A fun way to find new songs
Cons
Low potential earnings
Only supports PayPal
Difficult to increase your star rating
High cash-out minimum
12- Soundhalla
Soundhalla is a software development company that pays online users to listen to songs based on their preferences.
Install the app from the App or Play Store to start this side hustle. Next, set up an account and search for popular songs to earn gems, which you can convert to cash.
Pros
You can earn by sending a referral link to your friends.
You can withdraw once a week if you reach the payout threshold.
Receive $5 for each friend referral.
Cons
Low earning potential
Spamming the platform with poor feedback can lead to a lifetime ban.
13- Spotify
Thanks to its extensive library of songs, podcasts, and other audio content, Spotify has become one of the most popular music streaming platforms. However, not many users know they can also monetize their playlists.
If you want to get paid to listen to music on Spotify, use music sites like Playlist Push and SoundCampaign.
These sites often pay $15 to $20 per song review, depending on the number of your followers and activities.
To qualify as a curator, you need a verified identity and own playlists with many organic followers.
Pros
Higher potential earnings
Access to an extensive library of songs from all kinds of genres
Cons
Playlist curators need to meet a strict set of requirements.
You must use another music site to earn money from your Spotify playlist.
14- Up-4ever
Up-4ever differs from most apps and sites that pay people to listen to music online. According to the website, it pays users for uploading any type of files, as long as they don’t contain inappropriate content.
You’ll only earn if other people download the files you’ve uploaded. Another caveat is you can only earn when you reach 1,000 downloads, which is a difficult feat because of the site’s spammy ads.
The site pays $4 to $7 for every 1,000 downloads.
You can also earn extra cash through its referral program that gives you a commission every time a referral clicks the Premium Downloads instead of the Free Download.
Pros
Available in many countries
You can also earn from its referral program.
Cons
Spammy ads make it difficult to reach 1,000 downloads.
Difficult to earn
15- WeLocalize
Unlike most platforms that need people to listen to and review songs for money, WeLocalize will pay users to type the song lyrics. Think of it as a transcription job where you work on song lyrics instead of speeches and conversations.
If you sign up for this platform, you’ll receive tracks to transcribe daily. You earn around $4 for each gig you complete.
Pros
It supports wire transfer, which is faster than bank transfer.
Sign up for a free account.
High potential earning, with some users claiming to earn $16 to $20 per hour
Cons
Only available in the US
It requires a good typing speed.
Payment rates vary significantly, depending on your accuracy and typing speed.
Other Ways To Get Paid To Listen to Music
Besides using apps and sites that pay for listening to music, music lovers like you can also earn money through the following methods.
Transcribe Song Lyrics.
If you have excellent listening skills and attention to detail, consider transcribing song lyrics as your side hustle. By converting music into written form, you earn cash and help with copyright protection and song licensing.
Try WeLocalize to earn money listening to your favorite music and transcribing it.
Join Focus Groups.
If you want to make money listening to music while helping the music industry at the same time, try joining music-related focus groups.
Companies use focus groups to gather relevant data to help them improve their products and services. They usually reward participants with cash or gift cards.
The surveys, interviews, or questionnaires you must complete as a focus group member group can last 15 to 30 minutes and pay between $30 and $50.
Do Freelance Gigs on Upwork.
If you’re a musician, you can use freelancing platforms like Upwork to offer consultation services, join live gigs, and write music-related content.
You may also want to try these other popular freelancing websites:
Guru
Fiverr
SoundBetter
AirGigs
Start a YouTube Channel.
You can earn ad revenue from overlay, video ads, and displays on your YouTube channel. You can also make money with YouTube Premium whenever a user watches your content.
Start a Music Podcast.
The music industry caters to a broad audience, so it’s important to identify your niche and incorporate your unique spin and style when starting a music-related podcast.
You may want to start by interviewing independent artists and music teachers. You can also request local bands to play music for your audience members.
With a music podcast, you can make money by getting advertisers to sponsor your platform or doing affiliate marketing.
Take Online Surveys.
Survey sites like InboxDollars and Nielsen allow music fans to earn cash by sharing their online activity, music preferences, and demographics. That way, these companies can collect data for market research purposes.
Give Feedback to Radio Stations.
You can earn extra cash by listening to music online and answering polls and surveys.
Radio stations use polls and surveys to understand their audience and assess their music preferences and ideal programming schedule. They also interview listeners to rate host performances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can You Get Paid Listening to Music?
Yes. To get started, download an app or visit a website that promotes artists and record companies. Next, accept the task, which typically includes writing your feedback or rating new songs or artists.
Where Can I Get Paid for My Music?
Although many platforms can help musicians monetize their skills, YouTube is arguably the best site to share your music and grow your fanbase. You can also earn passive income through Adsense and affiliate links.
How Do I Become a Professional Listener?
Begin your music education by learning chords, keys, and musical techniques. You can do this by setting aside time for undistracted music listening every day.
These are the other things you can do to hone your music listening skills and ultimately become a bona fide music curator or reviewer.
Discover new and interesting songs and genres.
Play specific parts of a song.
Practice isolating the sounds of bass, guitar, vocal, drums, etc.
List down the features that you like and dislike in songs you hear.
Attend music conferences and events.
Connect with artists, products, and other music industry professionals.
Build up your portfolio.
Where Can You Get Paid To Listen to and Review New Music?
Some apps and sites pay you to listen to music and review new songs. These are the most popular platforms you can check out:
Playlist Push
Music Xray
SliceThePie
Is There Any Career Where Your Job Is to Listen to Music?
Yes. Jobs listening to music are excellent side gigs you can try.
Music producer
Music librarian
Music journalist
Music critic
Music supervisor
Music publisher
Music talent scout
Can You Get Paid for Making Spotify Playlists?
Yes. Playlist Push, SoundCampaign, and similar websites pay users with Spotify playlists with thousands of active listeners/followers.
The more people who listen to your playlist, the higher the earnings you’ll make. Meanwhile, you can use social media and other platforms to grow your subscribers.
The Bottom Line
You can turn your passion for music into a side hustle or even a viable source of passive income. However, most music sites and apps offer rates that won’t replace your full-time job.
Do it right, and listening to music can become a steady source of income that accumulates over time.
If you love binge-watching movies and TV shows, consider how you can get paid to watch Netflix.
