Want to get paid to listen to music? You can earn money by simply tuning in to your favorite songs while on the go! Talk about earning passive income!
Whether you love to crank the music up on those warm, sunny days or you enjoy listening to some motivational beats while going for a run, music is a great way to lift your spirits and get you moving.
When you add in the benefit that several platforms will now pay you to listen to music, it’s a win-win!
If you spend time listening to music, you’ll want to read on to learn how you can get paid to tune in every day!
Below are the 10 best ways to earn extra cash simply by listening to music!
1. Be an Online DJ
If you’re a music fan who loves curating playlists across different genres, perhaps becoming an online DJ is your calling. With the Pro version of Mixcloud, you can live stream, grow a raving audience of subscribers, and monetize through tips and channel subscriptions. The nice thing about MixCloud is that they handle the copyright for you. Mixcloud is available for Android and iOS devices, with 4.8-star ratings on each platform.
Another way you can earn money online with your DJing skills is by starting a YouTube channel. With the option, you can film yourself mixing music, giving tutorials, or even doing reviews. You’ll need to look into licensing rights with this method so that you’re not infringing on an artist’s copyrighted music. On YouTube, once you reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in one year, you can monetize with ads. You can also ask for tips and make money by promoting affiliate products and brand sponsorships.
2. Earnably
While known as a survey site, Earnably also offers members the opportunity to watch newly released music videos as one of many ways to earn money.
For every music video watched, you’ll earn points that convert into cash or gift cards. Besides being one of the highest-paying platforms, Earnably offers multiple tasks that allow you to earn additional income.
Taking a quick survey here and there or watching paid ads allows members to rack up points that they can convert into cash even faster.
Here are some of the other benefits of using Earnably:
- Free to sign up.
- Small withdrawal limit of just $2.
- The direct transfer of funds to PayPal or get paid through Amazon Gift Cards.
- Awesome referral program: Earn 10% of what your friends make for life!
- Earnably has a 3.7-star rating on Trustpilot.
3. Music Industry Content Creation
If written, spoken, or visual mediums are more your thing, you can start creating content around music. The topics you can cover and how to earn money from your content are endless. From live concerts and album reviews to features on music festivals, new artists, new songs, music gear, fashion, news, interviews, and more! One of the perks of content creation is that you can do it as a part-time side hustle or turn it into a full-fledged business.
To get started, pick a niche, your name, and the platforms you want to use (WordPress Blog, Medium, Instagram, TikTok, Substack, YouTube, or Patreon). Once you have the groundwork laid, you can start creating your content and getting exposure with SEO, social media, and email marketing. Next, pick a few monetization methods, such as affiliate marketing, working with an ad network, merch sales, sponsored content, or creator funds.
Check out this helpful article for more tips on content creation.
4. Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel
If getting paid to listen to your own playlist sounds like a great way to make money, read on!
As a company, Nielsen is heavily devoted to market research. Essentially, they pay individuals to perform specific tasks and then sell the findings to companies such as music labels, retailers, and brands. Staying ahead of current music trends is important for music producers, and this is where companies such as Nielsen come in.
To get started, sign up and download the app to your computer, mobile device, or tablet. The app then runs in the background, collecting anonymous data about how you use your devices. For this information, you’ll earn $60 a year in rewards, such as gift cards from Amazon and Starbucks or cash via PayPal or a Visa Debit Card. Panelists also receive invites for surveys and research opportunities, allowing them to earn even more!
The Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel app is a legit way to earn real money and rewards, for doing what you’re already doing, surfing the web and listening to music!
Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel receives a 3.8-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
5. Paid Focus Groups
Focus groups are a great way to connect with companies seeking individuals to share their opinions on various topics, including music. Holly participated in a focus group in college for a radio station where she rated snippets of songs. After the session, she was awarded $100 in cash!
With an ongoing need to test products and gather consumer feedback, companies rely on these focus groups to conduct market research on products, services, and even music before they reach the mainstream. This is where you come in.
Depending on the company you sign up with and the group you participate in, you can earn between $25 and $100.
Focus groups can meet in person, online, or over the phone. Before signing up, be sure to read the criteria for each focus group in detail.
Besides the larger payouts, another benefit of participating in focus groups is the wide array of potential ways you can make money. In addition to listening to music, focus groups want to know your opinion on everything from sports to fashion, social issues to finances, and more.
Some sites feature simple online surveys, while others ask for interviews. You can also take advantage of other types of focus groups. To get started, check out Respondent, Survey Junkie, and User Interviews.
6. Playlist Push
Playlist Push is a legitimate music app that lets you earn extra income by listening to new music. Earnings on this site have reportedly reached up to $12 per song, but they generally start around $1 per review.
This site allows music lovers (like yourself) to monetize their playlists. Singers, music producers, and artists pay playlist creators to listen to their tracks through this website.
Here’s what you need to know about being a music curator on Playlist Push:
- You must own a music playlist with REAL followers on either Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Music.
- You can discover new music by independent artists and add them to your playlist.
- Flexibility: You can listen on any device at home or out and about.
- Payout is immediate. You choose when you get paid, and Playlist Push sends the money directly to your bank account.
To qualify further, you’ll need to have a certain number of real organic followers on your Apple or Spotify playlist. Be sure to check the criteria as you create your profile. Playlist Push has a 4.2-star rating on Trustpilot.
Playlist Push also has a program for TikTok creators, where they can get paid to use certain sounds and music in their videos. Content creators can earn up to $250 per video! With this program, you can receive instant payouts via Venmo, PayPal, or direct deposit.
7. Roundabout Ways to Get Paid to Listen to Music
Of course, there are other indirect ways that you can earn money while listening to your favorite online radio stations or streaming services. You can take surveys or perform simple tasks with companies like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and CrowdGen by Appen. While these methods won’t earn you a full-time income, they will give you enough to pay your monthly Spotify fee or purchase some new vinyl for your record collection.
Another way you can make money while listening to music is by joining the rideshare or gig economy. You can listen to tunes while driving people around, delivering food, or even walking dogs. With apps like TaskRabbit, Instacart, DoorDash, HopSkipDrive, and Rover, you can make money with the added bonus of getting to listen to music while you work.
Lastly, if you enjoy creating content for TikTok, you can make money using the Work With Artists program. With this program, different musicians and bands pay creators to use their songs in recorded content. Each program has its own requirements, but if your video achieves certain milestones, you’ll be eligible for cash rewards. This is a fun way to learn about new artists, listen to music, and earn money!
The nice thing about these options is that you only need a smartphone, an internet connection, and some free time to work on tasks.
8. Slicethepie
Slicethepie is one of the world’s largest review platforms, where you can earn money for reviewing music, fashion, videos, games, and more!
To get started, download the app to your Apple or Android device or create an account online. When you sign up, make sure you use your PayPal, Revolut, or Airtm email address, as this is the one you’ll use to withdraw your earnings.
To use the platform, you must be at least 16 years of age and confirm your email address.
With Spicethepie, you can earn extra cash by playing games, taking surveys, writing reviews, taking advantage of flash deals and cashback offers, and performing a variety of miscellaneous tasks. Most tasks have a cash value assigned to them, so you know exactly how much you’ll earn; however, the cash value is not posted for reviews.
Generally, when you listen to a song, you’ll be asked a series of 20+ questions, and you’ll earn around $0.04 per review. As you earn money, your balance will be displayed on your dashboard, and you must have at least $20 in your account to cash out. Payments are made instantly to your PayPal, Revolut, or Airtm account.
Slicethepie has a 3.7-star rating on Trustpilot.
9. SoundCampaign
SoundCampaign is another real opportunity to get paid to listen to music!
To become a playlist curator on SoundCampaign, you must have active Spotify playlists with at least 20 songs and at least 1,000 authentic followers.
To get started, submit your Spotify Curator Application and answer the qualifying questions. Once you’re approved, add the URLs of your popular Spotify playlists to the SoundCampaign dashboard, along with the genres and language for each playlist.
SoundCampaign will send you new tracks based on the genres in your playlists. You’ll then listen to and review songs, and if you like a song, you’ll add it to one of your popular playlists. How much you’ll earn depends on SoundCampaign’s 15-position ranking system, which ranges from $1 to $14 per review. Once your account reaches the payout threshold of $20, you can cash out your earnings via direct deposit.
SoundCampaign is a legit way to review music and earn a little extra cash, receiving a 3.9-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot.
10. Welocalize
If you love listening to music AND typing, this side hustle with Welocalize is for you!
Welocalize is a transcription service that pays its members to listen to music and transcribe the lyrics.
After you create a free account, check out the Freelance Projects section to see if they have openings for transcribing music. Once you have an account, you’ll start receiving tracks to transcribe.
As with any transcription work, you’ll need to be able to type quickly and accurately to generate a good amount of income from this gig.
Welocalize pays about $4 per song transcribed. To get paid, you’ll need to set up a wire transfer and an ACH. You will also need to be a US citizen for this work.
Due to its popularity, transcription jobs of this nature may not always be available. The best thing to do is sign up for their email list and, if you love to type, check out their other postings for transcription work while you’re there! Welocalize has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau.
Get Paid to Listen to Music Wrapup
Getting paid to listen to music is one of those side hustles you can return to over and over again. In addition to being a great way to pass the time and make money, sharing your opinion in the music world can help new artists get their start.
From indie artists and music producers to radio broadcasters and more, your feedback can help shape the next wave of music to hit the airwaves. While jamming out to your favorite tunes might not be your primary source of income, it will certainly bring in some extra cash rewards to purchase those things that might not otherwise be possible.
Do you have any questions? Have you tried any of these sites? Please drop us a line below or share your thoughts with us!
