The future of music

15 Best Ways to Get Paid to Listen to Music

June 8, 2023
get paid to listen to music

Do you want to get paid to listen to music?

That might seem like a dream, but there are actual ways to earn money by simply listening to music. 

And you don’t have to be a music industry professional to get the job – you just need to be passionate about music and discovering new artists.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at the best ways to get paid to listen to music!

1. Spotify

Spotify on Mobile phone.

When thinking about music streaming apps, Spotify is the first name that comes to mind.

Since its launch in 2008, Spotify made a huge impact on the music industry.

With over 515 million active users, Spotify is currently the largest music streaming platform, providing millions of songs and other content from creators all over the world.

That said, if you want to find a good way to earn money by listening to music, Spotify is one of your best options.

For instance, you can monetize your Spotify playlists and become a playlist curator. 

To qualify as a curator, you need to own a playlist with real organic followers, and you need at least 1,000 followers.

Some curators are employed by Spotify, so you should keep building playlists and finding new listeners. 

If you enjoy making playlists on Spotify, this is a great way to earn money while doing something that you’re already doing. 

2. Slicethepie 

Slicethepie

And if you want to get paid for your opinion on music, you should check out Slicethepie.

Slicethepie is the largest paid review site on the internet. 

So, Slicethepie can pay you for providing music reviews and answering surveys, and it can pay you for every review you write. 

However, how much you’ll get paid depends on several factors, including the quality of your review and the category of music.

Don’t expect to earn a fortune though. 

But if you’re motivated and consistent, Slicethepie can be a nice way to earn some extra cash by simply listening to music and sharing your opinion.

3. RadioEarn

RadioEarn

RadioEarn is another popular way of getting paid to listen to music. 

In essence, RadioEarn is a platform that helps you earn money by listening to internet radio stations.

You just need to create a free account and start earning by clicking on your radio links.

The site promises to give you points every 15 minutes, and points will then be converted to USD.

This way, you can receive payouts every month in the form of Bitcoin, Amazon gift cards, or bank transfers.

So if you’re looking for a simple way to earn a little extra money, you can explore more about how RadioEarn works.

4. Earnably

Earnably

Widely known as a GPT (Get-Paid-To) site, Earnably is another popular online reward platform worth checking out.

Generally, Earnably pays its users to complete simple tasks, take surveys, and watch videos. 

Some of these tasks relate to music – answering music-related surveys, for example.

And if you get enough points, you can exchange them for money via PayPal or choose from multiple gift cards.

Just like with RadioEarn, you won’t earn a ton of money with Earnably, but it’s a very simple way to earn money that won’t take you too much time or energy. 

5. Current

Current

With the Current app, you can make money while working, running, driving, or cooking.

The app allows you to earn points and redeem them for cash or gift cards.

And you can earn money simply by playing music.

There are thousands of radio stations to choose from, and you’ll earn points with every tap of the play button.

And as they claim on their website: the more you play, the more you earn. 

The platform also keeps adding new ways to generate points, so if you register, look out for updates. 

6. Research.fm 

Research.fm 

Research.fm is a market research company focused on market research and analysis for radio stations.

So, Research.fm can use your opinion to advise local radio stations about what music to play. 

To get started, you need to sign up and fill out an email survey about your demographics and listening habits.

The platform will then provide you with further instructions, music samples, and rewards. 

7. Cash4minutes 

Cash4minutes

Cash4minutes offers a rather unique way of earning money while listening to music. 

The service allows you to earn cash by listening to Internet radio broadcasts with your monthly unused phone minutes.

So, you just have to sign up, attach your phone numbers to your account, call one of the provided numbers, and listen to the radio broadcast.

You’ll earn a small amount for each minute you tune in, and when you collect enough units, you can collect your earnings via Paypal, Bitcoin, bank transfer, or Amazon gift card.

8. Upwork

Upwork

You can also check out some alternative ways to get paid to listen to music. 

For instance, you can use Upwork.

Upwork is a popular freelancing platform that connects businesses with independent professionals, freelancers, and agencies.

It’s a great platform to get started with freelancing, and there are many music-related jobs you can apply for.

Many people search for lyrics writers, transcribers, music bloggers, and content creators.

And if you come across a good offer, you’ll get a chance to find a steady income or even a future full-time job. 

9. Start a YouTube Channel 

microphone and laptop and table and chair

If you’re a music enthusiast and you want to make money online, you can also start a YouTube channel to review music. 

Starting a YouTube channel also requires some other skills though, including communication skills, basic video editing skills, and knowledge of music copyright.

However, if you approach it in the right way, making YouTube reviews can be a nice stream of revenue.

You can review new music, comment on the latest trends and music-related events, host interviews, and so on.

And once you grow your audience, you can think about finding sponsors and selling merch to get some extra cash. 

This is a highly competitive field though, and you need to work hard to get yourself noticed.

But it’s also an interesting and exciting idea, and you won’t know where it can take you unless you try.

10. Transcribe Lyrics

A book

Another interesting way of making extra money is transcribing music lyrics.

There are several apps and services that hire people to transcribe song lyrics.

For instance, you can check out WeLocalize, one of the most popular translation and localization companies that pay freelancers to translate songs.

You can also search for job offers at freelancing websites like Upwork. 

11. Join Focus Groups 

people gathering for meeting

If you have a strong opinion about music, you should consider joining a focus group.

There are companies that can pay you for focus group participation and for sharing your opinion about new and upcoming music.

And some of these groups pay quite well. 

If you can’t find any good opportunities in your area, online focus groups are a great way to start. 

Some of the online focus groups you can check out include User Interviews, Respondent, and Ipsos. 

12. Start a Music Podcast 

microphone earphone laptop and person

Podcasts are getting more and more popular.

So why not try starting your own music podcast show?

Just like with YouTube, you can review new music, chat with musicians and artists, share your opinion on music-related topics, and so on.

Making a successful podcast can bring you solid income, so it’s definitely worth trying.

Plus, if you’re a music enthusiast who can chat about music for hours, starting your own podcast will be a very fun and interesting project. 

And you don’t need to invest a lot of money to get things started – you just need a good microphone, headphones, and a computer/laptop.

13. Write Music Reviews 

A woman using laptop

If you’re good at writing, you can also start earning income by writing music reviews.

You can search for job offers on freelancing platforms like Upwork, or you can search for music blogs and websites and let them know you’re interested in joining their team.

There are many opportunities out there, but there’s also a lot of competition, so you’ll need to be persistent. 

In the beginning, you can write articles and reviews for a smaller fee.

Once you build a strong portfolio, gain experience, and improve your writing skills, there’s a high chance you’ll come across an opportunity that will bring you solid income. 

14. Work at a Record Store

A person take some record songs

If you’re a music enthusiast, finding a job in a local record store might be a great idea.

This is a dream job for many music lovers, so if you’re currently looking for a new full-time or part-time job, you should check if there are any opportunities in your area.

If you get a job in a record store, you’ll be surrounded by music all day, and you would have a chance to meet interesting, like-minded individuals, artists, and musicians. 

And you’ll probably be encouraged to listen to and play a lot of good music. 

15. Become a DJ

A DJ mixing some music, using laptop microphone and mixing instruments

Finally, if you want to make money by listening to a lot of music, you should consider DJing.

Now, you don’t have to become a popular DJ and perform in large clubs – you can make money as a DJ in other ways too.

For instance, you play music at local cafes, bars, venues, and events.

Once you build a good reputation, people will reach out to you, and DJing can become your side hustle. 

How to Get Paid to Listen to Music? 

Finding a good music-related job and earning a solid income by listening to music is not so easy.

Every music lover would be doing it otherwise, right?

However, it’s not impossible – if you’re eager to get paid to listen to music, there’s a variety of options to choose from.

So, it would be best to choose one of the options we mentioned today and discover more about how everything works.

If you want to earn passive income, you’ll probably find a solution rather quickly.

But if you’re ready for something more challenging, you can, for example, consider becoming a music curator. 

Playlist curators basically spend their days listening to music – their role is to listen to music, categorize it, respond to content requests, and decide which songs to include on certain platforms. 

You can also become a radio curator and a commercial curator.

It all depends on your goals, abilities, and interests.

Best Ways to Get Paid to Listen to Music – Final Thoughts 

As you can see, there are many different ways you can get paid to listen to music.

From popular reward platforms and apps to more creative ways such as writing music reviews and starting a podcast.

Most of these options offer an easy way to earn some extra money, but some of them have the potential to become profitable and fulfilling full-time jobs. 

You may also like: Best Careers in the Music Industry

Will Fenton

Will, the founder of MIDDER, is a multifaceted individual with a deep passion for music and personal finance. As a self-proclaimed music and personal finance geek, he has a keen eye for futuristic technologies, especially those that empower creators and the public.

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