While getting rich solely by listening to music online is unlikely, there are legitimate ways to earn some extra money, often by providing feedback or curating playlists. Here’s how:
1. Music Review Platforms:
These platforms pay you to listen to new and unreleased music and provide your opinion. Your feedback helps artists and labels gauge audience reception before official releases.
* SliceThePie: One of the most well-known platforms. You listen to songs (usually for at least 90 seconds), then write a review and rate the track. The more detailed and helpful your review, the more you can earn. They also offer reviews for fashion, games, and other content.
* HitPredictor: Pays users to review new music before it’s released to the public.
* Music Xray (now part of SmashHaus): Allows you to listen to 30-second clips and get paid for your opinions.
* MusicGateway: Offers opportunities to review new songs and discover emerging artists for your opinions.
* Research.fm: Offers rewards for participating in music surveys, where you rate songs and share your opinions.
2. Playlist Curation:
If you have a popular Spotify playlist with a significant number of real, organic followers, you can get paid to review and potentially add new songs from independent artists to your playlists.
* Playlist Push: If you own a Spotify playlist with at least 1,000 real followers, you can apply to become a curator. You’ll receive songs to review based on your playlist’s genre and can earn per review (up to $14-$15 per song).
* SoundCampaign: Similar to Playlist Push, SoundCampaign connects artists with verified playlist curators who get paid to listen to and review songs, and potentially add them to their playlists.
3. Passive Listening/Task-Based Apps:
Some apps offer small earnings for simply listening to music in the background or completing other small tasks.
* Current Rewards (Mode Earn App): This app rewards you for listening to music, and also offers other earning opportunities like rating songs, playing games, and completing surveys.
* RadioEarn: Allows you to earn passive income by listening to internet radio stations. You earn points that can be converted to cash or gift cards.
* Earnably: A rewards platform where you can earn points for listening to music, watching music videos, and completing other simple tasks.
* Cash4Minutes: Rewards you for listening to internet radio.
Important Considerations:
* Earning Potential: Don’t expect to get rich from these methods. The pay per song or task is generally low (often a few cents to a few dollars), but it can add up over time, especially if you’re consistent.
* Quality of Reviews: For review platforms, the quality and detail of your feedback often influence how much you earn.
* Playlist Follower Requirements: For playlist curation, you generally need a substantial and engaged following on your Spotify playlists to qualify.
* Legitimacy: Stick to well-known and reputable platforms. Be wary of any site promising incredibly high payouts with little effort, as these are often scams.
* Payment Methods: Most platforms pay via PayPal, gift cards, or sometimes cryptocurrency.
By exploring these options, you can turn your love for music into a small, enjoyable side hustle.