14 Best Ways to Get Paid to Listen to Music in 2024

As for how much money you can make, it really depends. Each site has a different pay rate. But generally, this isn’t going to replace your day job. But it’s a great way to make extra money without an actual job.

Why would companies pay you to do this?

Your feedback is important to artists, especially new artists who are trying to break into the market. They use your feedback to make adjustments to their work – like their voice pitch in certain parts of the song, how they play certain instruments or whether or not to include an intricate melody for the guitar solo during a concert – in order to make it better.

It’s the exact same reason why companies pay you to answer surveys or participate in focus groups.

Best Music Review Sites that Pay

Here are the best review sites where you can get paid for listening to and rating music.

1. Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel

You’ve probably heard of Nielsen TV rating. The company that pays you for watching TV? Yes, the one that networks use its data to find out how many people watch certain shows.

This is from the same company but this one is for research and data gathering of internet usage.

They basically pay you to install their free app on any of your devices so they can gather data (for market research purposes) on how people use their devices, like what kinds of sites you like or what kinds of music you listen to.

The data is gathered anonymously, so no personally identifiable information will be shared.

You get paid $50 per year for installing their free app.

2. Musicxray

Musicxray is one of the most popular platforms for singers and songwriters, especially up and coming artists, to get their music out there in front of potential fans.

As a fan, you get paid to listen and rate music in various genres, anything from Folk and Country music to Rap, Pop, Hip Hop and everything in between.

Each recording that you have to listen to in order to earn is usually around 30 seconds. You are paid 10 cents per song.

Once you have reached $20 in earnings you can cash out via PayPal.

3. Slicethepie

Slicethepic is a review site focused on music and fashion. That’s right, you can also get paid for reviewing fashion.

As for the music part of it, you basically have to listen to and review the latest music tracks from artists from around the world.

To be eligible for payment, you have to listen to each track for at least 60 seconds. Once you’re done with listening, you answer a few questions about the track and what you liked and disliked.

As for how much you can make, each review pays anywhere from 2 to 20 cents. Once you have $10 you can cash out via PayPal.

4. Hitpredictor

If you are familiar with focus groups and paid online surveys, you know that a lot of companies use feedback from panelists to fine tune their product before releasing them to the market. Hitpredictor helps artists do exactly that by paying you (the user) to listen to music and share your opinion.

Artists then use that feedback to determine whether they can release the new song or album as is or to make adjustments first.

You’re not limited either. You can find music on all kinds of genres, including Classical, Jazz, Rock and Roll and even Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.

You earn 3 points (equal to $1) for every song you rate. You can redeem your earnings for free gift cards.

They also have daily contests that you can participate in to win gift cards.

5. Earnably

Earnably is a rewards site much like Swagbucks that pays you for doing various tasks some of which you probably already do anyway.

Tasks include shopping, filling out surveys, as well as watching videos and listening to the radio.

Yes, you literally get paid for watching videos and listening to the radio.

The pay rate varies depending on the task at hand. Once you have $2 (about 225 points) in your account (which shouldn’t be that hard to reach considering the number of tasks available at any given time) you can cash out via PayPal, Bitcoin or Amazon Gift Cards.

6. Current Rewards

Current Rewards is basically a lock screen app. It pays you for listening to any one of over 100,000 stations on your smartphone’s lock screen.

Getting started is very easy. Install the app on your phone. Then swipe up on your phone’s lock screen and choose a station to listen to.

You earn “credits” for listening to each station.

You can redeem your credits for gift cards, cash and other prizes.

7. RadioLoyalty

• RadioLoyalty app for Android
• RadioLoyalty app for iOS

I wrote about RadioLoyalty in a post about getting paid for listening to the radio a while back.

It’s basically an internet radio where you can listen to radio programming that includes music from thousands of radio stations around the world.

Now, you’re not technically getting paid for listening to music, rather you are paid for listening to ads in between breaks.

Every 10 minutes you listen to the radio earns you 10 points. You can then redeem your points for gift cards.

8. FusionCash

FusionCash is similar to Unique Rewards. It also pays for doing all kinds of tasks including listening to internet radio.

FusionCash has a $25 minimum cash out requirement. Once you have $25, you can request a payment by check, direct deposit or PayPal.

By the way, they pay you a $5 bonus just for signing up (which is free!)

9. RadioEarn

This is another great way to make some extra money for free by simply listening to the radio.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for free.
2. Start earning by clicking on your radio link(s).

It really is as simple as that.

If you have a blog or website, you can make much more since they let you use their API to integrate the radio on your site so you can earn more points from your visitors listening to the radio.

According to the company, you earn a certain number of points for every 15 minutes you listen. Your points are converted to cash (USD). They offer a few payout options that include Bank transfer (wire), Amazon Gift Cards, Bitcoin and PayPal.

10. Research.fm

Research.fm is another platform that pays you for listening to music. The company explains, “There’s no crystal ball for radio stations, so they need your input on what music, morning shows, and DJs you actually want to hear. Your opinions are so important that they are willing to pay you for them!”

Your feedback helps radio stations around the country to determine what kind of music to play during their programming.

And if you love getting free Amazon gift cards, you’ll like this one since they let you redeem your earnings for Amazon gift cards.

11. Cash4minutes

Wanna get paid for making calls?

According to the company, “Cash4Minutes is a supreme service that allows you to earn cash with your monthly unused phone minutes simply by listening to internet radio broadcasts.”

To get started simply create a free account and fill out your profile. You will then receive an email with a list of tasks to do. You can choose to listen to any (at the time) available radio station.

The pay rate as about $0.08 per minute. And as for payment options, you have a few including PayPal, Bitcoin, Litecoin as well as Amazon Gift Cards.

12. Welocalize

If you like online transcription jobs and wanna combine it with your love of music, this is the site for you.

It’s basically a transcription service that pays you to transcribe songs by listening to them and typing out the lyrics.

You are paid $4 for every song you transcribe which is not bad especially if you are good and fast at it. Even if you are not a fast transcriber, it’s still a fun way to make some money.

13. Unique Rewards

Update: Based on so many negative reviews from users lately about the lack of payment, we no longer recommend UniqueRewards.

As the name hints, Unique Rewards is an online rewards site that pays you for doing all kinds of online tasks, like taking surveys, shopping, visiting websites, reading emails and of course watching videos and listening to internet radio.

To earn, you have to listen to Internet radio but there is a catch! They actually pay you by CAPTCHA. Yes, the site will give you CAPTCHA throughout your listening timeframe. For users in the U.S., the pay is 3 cents per CAPTCHA while for Canadians it’s 1 cent per.

Now, this may not seem like much, but keep in mind that as mentioned earlier, they have many other ways for you to earn money as well.

Once you have $20 in your account, you can cash out via PayPal or by check.

14. PlaylistPush

If you like creating playlists and sharing it, you’ll love this site.

PlaylistPush helps independent artists get their music in front of potential fans by allowing fans (playlist curators) to monetize their playlist.

It’s a win-win for both you (the playlist curator) and independent artists. You make some extra cash by curating playlists and sharing them online and independent artists who might not yet have the money or name recognition, get to have their music listened to by potential fans.

You can monetize your playlists from Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music.

You can choose which songs you add to your playlist.

Here’s how it works for you (the playlist curator):

An artist will offer to pay you to add their song to your playlist. If you like the song, add it to your playlist.

Earn between $1 to $12 per song review which is paid to you via PayPal.

Now to be a playlist curator, you have to have at least 400 followers on your playlist.

Is it Worth It?

If you are a music fan (and who isn’t, right?), then yes, it absolutely is worth it. Even if you’re not THAT into music but are looking for free ways to make money online easily, this is as easy and as passive as it can get.

Sure, you won’t be making a lot of money, but for the little work that’s involved and the fun of enjoying a favorite song or maybe even discovering a new tune, getting paid to listen to music is a great option.