10 Ways to Get Paid to Listen to Music in 2024
Listening to music is definitely one of the most popular pastimes in the world. Chances are, you spend not just time but also a good chunk of money on it – be it by buying records or paying for streaming platform subscriptions. But did you know the opposite can be an option, too? These days, you can actually get paid to listen to music online!
In this article, we’re going to introduce 10 websites, applications, and other ways to make money listening to music every day. If a soundtrack to your day plus extra cash sounds like an enticing option – keep on reading!
Websites and Applications
Let's start with the variety of opportunities you can find online, shall we? With the 5 websites and applications for music lovers described below, you will definitely find a way to make money in your free time – all without doing any real work!
Current / Mode
Confused by two names? Don’t be: it’s one and the same music app, it’s just named differently in different operating systems. If you’re an iPhone user, search for Current on App Store; if you’re team Android, look for Mode in Google Play.
The app offers over 100,000 curated radio stations which you can listen to and earn points – and as the music plays, you can sometimes hear about extra opportunities to get unique rewards! The points you earn on Current / Mode can be exchanged for products, services, charity donations or various gift cards. It's a great money-making opportunity for anyone who enjoys listening to music and discovering new artists! Seriously, why pay for streaming platforms when Current can pay you extra money instead?
How much can you get paid to listen to music on this app, you ask? It depends on both your profile (the more detailed, the better!) and the time you spend listening to music. If you spend 20–30 hours on the app every week, you can effortlessly make up to $600 per year!
Radio Earn
Radio Earn is another company that lets you earn points by listening to online radio – however, it works on your internet browser instead of a desktop or mobile application. If you have a website of your own, you can also integrate the player to it and earn when your visitors use it to listen to music – talk about passive income!
With Radio Earn, music lovers get points after every 15 minutes of listening, and the points you collect in a month get converted to USD. You can then choose to cash out via a bank transfer, Bitcoin, or Amazon gift cards – which means you're free to choose whether you'll go for extra cash or more unique rewards!
Radio Earn can barely be called a side hustle, since the earnings are very low: most users said they were making a few bucks a month. However, if you enjoy various tunes, why not take the chance to get paid to listen to music?
HitPredictor
HitPredictor is a great option for those who want to always be the first to hear new songs and have at least a little influence on the music industry. The idea is simple: you listen to tracks by independent artists that haven’t been released yet and rate them. According to HitPredictor’s website, your ratings have the power to ‘influence record labels, radio stations, the artists, and their managers’ – sounds like a dream, now doesn’t it?
Just like Radio Earn, HitPredictor doesn’t have a dedicated music app – you need to listen to and review music using your web browser. Users get paid per song, and the points they receive can later be exchanged for prizes or weekly raffle tickets. Again, it’s not too lucrative of an activity, but every penny counts – and while earning money, you get to discover new artists, too.
Slicethepie
Slicethepie is a review site that lets you earn by sharing your opinion on various things – and one of the categories you can pick is new songs. After listening to at least 90 seconds of a track, you can submit your rating and get paid to listen to music.
If you’re looking to get paid to listen to music with Slicethepie, keep in mind that you will have to write reviews, too – and do it well. The size of your reward depends on the quality of your review. Detailed, constructive and well-written reviews make more – plus, some categories are specified as paying more, so you can be aware of it when choosing what to review.
In most cases, you’ll make $0.03–0.15 per review, which isn’t much, but it can definitely add up over time. Moreover, for real music lovers, it will be more of a pleasure than work!
Playlist Push
While Playlist Push is not technically a way to get paid to listen to music online, it’s still a great side hustle for those who enjoy discovering new artists. If you have a Spotify playlist with 1,000+ followers, you can become a curator for Playlist Push – which means you would receive songs that fit your playlist’s genre to review.
This is actually great in two ways: not only do you get paid to listen to music and write reviews, but you can also find great new songs to add to your playlist and help your listeners discover independent artists and their new favorite music tracks. The amount you’re getting paid per song may vary from $1.25 all the way up to $15 – it all depends on the size of your playlist and the activity of your listeners!
Music Xray
Music Xray is an amazing website for music fans all over the world. It offers an opportunity to not only discover new music but also to earn money by doing so. At its core, it is a platform for independent musicians and record labels to submit their music for review and feedback.
On this platform, you can earn extra cash by writing music reviews. As you review music uploaded by various newcomers to the music industry, you can earn 10 cents for each music clip that you blast on your headphones and write opinions on. Once you accumulate at least $20, you are good to go! You can request a payout to your PayPal account.
Focus Forward
Focus Forward is a market research company that conducts various types of research studies, including online surveys, focus groups, and interviews. One of the types of research studies conducted by Focus Forward is music focus groups, and that is good news if you love music. These groups typically involve gathering a small group of individuals who listen to and provide feedback on new tunes that a certain music curator provides. Music focus groups are conducted both in-person and online.
These focus group sessions last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, but the payments are well worth your time. You can earn in the range of $50-$200 per single session. Of course, these sessions do not happen all the time, 24/7, but once you see the opportunity to participate in one, you should jump right into it.
Full-time ways to get paid to listen to music
While some are looking to earn cash on the side using apps and websites, others would prefer a money-making opportunity they could take on as their primary choice of career. If you're also tired of your 9-to-5 and would prefer a money-making opportunity that allows you to get paid to listen to music full-time, here are a few options you could try.
DJing at parties
If you're not just a music fan but also a night owl and a party lover – why not combine your passions into a money-making opportunity? Good DJs are needed in all types of events – from birthday celebrations to Ibiza parties, making it one of the best ways to make money if you are crazy for music!
The downside to this job is the fact that unless you specialize in children's parties, the majority of gigs will happen on nights and weekends. Some believe it makes DJing perfect for a side hustle – however, it's only possible if you don't do it on a weekly basis. You certainly need to have a proper rest before you can become the life of a party!
Working at a music store
It might seem like streaming platforms are all the rage right now – and yet, music stores are not going extinct. Sure, there are fewer of them than there were in the 80s, but real music enthusiasts still appreciate the sounds of a well-made record. It's true – the growing popularity of once-forgotten vinyls is far from accidental!
If you manage to get a job at a music store – honestly, you'll have a blast. Spending entire days among records and band merchandise? Recommending new artists for your customers to discover? Potentially even organizing signing sessions and acoustic shows? Sign us up!
Reviewing new artists and songs
Depending on the niche you pick, content creation can be a pretty lucrative business. Whether it's writing blog articles, filming YouTube videos, or doing something completely different, you could earn cash by doing something you love and highlighting the topics you're most interested in at the same time.
As a music enthusiast, you could write reviews of new albums and music videos, interview new and up-and-coming artists, visit and discuss local music events... The possibilities to get paid to listen to music and share your opinions online are close to endless! The best music reviewers easily make six-figure salaries every year – and all it takes it a little time and a whole lot of passion.
Now that you know how to get paid to listen to music… It’s time to learn about a way to earn extra at the same time!
With Honeygain, you can make money online by simply leaving the app running on your computer, tablet, or smartphone with a stable internet connection – and you can still use the device as you normally would. This means you can earn extra cash or crypto while you’re listening to your favorite tracks, watching music videos, or doing anything your heart desires!