Is It Real? Can You Actually Make Money Listening to Music?
I know what you’re thinking—is this for real or just another internet scam? I had the exact same reaction. The idea that you can make money listening to music sounds like one of those too-good-to-be-true side hustles. But after diving in, I found out it’s actually legit… if you know where to look.
Companies and platforms are constantly looking for real people to give feedback on new tracks, underground artists, and music curation. Some apps want listener reviews, while others use your input to help shape playlists or test market reaction. And yep, they’ll pay you a few bucks per song in exchange.
Now, will this replace your 9–5? Probably not. But it’s a chill way to earn while doing something you’re already doing anyway—jamming out with your earbuds in.
I first stumbled on this while looking for weird ways to make passive income online. I’d already been dabbling in stuff like selling photos from my phone (more on that hustle right here) and thought, Why not try getting paid to listen too?
Turns out, this little music side hustle can actually stack up if you treat it like a habit—and there’s zero cost to get started.
My Experience Trying Out Music-Paying Apps
I signed up for a handful of apps that claimed they’d pay me to rate or review music. And just to be clear—I’m not a music expert. I just enjoy listening, and apparently that’s enough.
Here’s what I learned testing it out over a couple of weeks:
1. Slice the Pie
This was the first app I tried, and it’s probably the most well-known. You listen to 90 seconds of a song and give it a quick written review. The better your reviews, the more you earn per track. I started at about $0.10–$0.20 per song, but that jumped once my “rating” improved.
2. HitPredictor
This one’s more like a music opinion platform. You rate songs before they go mainstream, and earn points you can trade in for gift cards. Not exactly cash, but I got a free Amazon card after a week—so I’ll take it.
3. Current Rewards
This one’s super passive. You literally earn points just by streaming music through their app while going about your day. I let it run while working, walking, whatever. It takes a while to build up, but it’s hands-off income.
4. Research.fm
Less common, but you get invited to surveys based on your music preferences. Some pay cash, some give gift cards. It’s hit or miss, but still worth signing up for.
Between all these, I earned around $35 in two weeks, just by rating music during downtime or in the background while doing other things.
Not a life-changing amount, but it was enough to treat myself to lunch—and it felt like free money. For more simple ways to grow online income like this, check out this post on earning while you sleep.
What Are the Best Apps That Pay You to Listen to Music?
After testing a handful of platforms, I’ve narrowed it down to the best ones that are actually legit and worth your time. These are the apps and websites where you can make money listening to music—whether through reviews, streaming, or feedback.
1. Slice the Pie
This one still takes the top spot. It’s user-friendly, and you get paid per review. Just listen to a clip, rate it, and write a short review. The more detailed your feedback, the higher your rating—and higher ratings mean higher pay. I’ve had reviews pay anywhere from $0.12 to $0.25 each.
2. Current Rewards (a.k.a. Mode Earn App)
This app pays you passively while you stream music. It’s not a fast earner, but if you listen while working or commuting, you’ll slowly earn points you can cash out for PayPal money or gift cards.
3. HitPredictor
This one is more about giving feedback to record labels. They give you points for each rating, and while it’s not a cash app, you can redeem your points for gift cards, sweepstakes entries, and other perks. It’s still a fun option if you enjoy hearing music before the masses do.
4. Research.fm
You need an invite to get started, but it’s worth it. They’ll email you surveys based on your music taste. You rate short music clips and earn Amazon gift cards. Easy and surprisingly fun.
5. Playlist Push
If you own a playlist with a decent following on Spotify or Apple Music, this one pays big. I didn’t qualify, but a friend of mine earns up to $12 per song submission just for reviewing and considering tracks. Great for playlist curators.
I’ll be real—none of these are going to make you a millionaire, but they’re solid ways to earn while doing something you already love. And if you stack this side hustle with others—like this weekend hustle I used to make $100—you can start to see some real income momentum.
How Much Can You Realistically Make?
Alright, let’s talk numbers—because “get paid to listen to music” sounds fun, but what does it actually add up to?
Here’s what I personally earned over a 2-week period:
- Slice the Pie: $22.10
- HitPredictor: One $10 Amazon card
- Current Rewards: About $3 worth of points
- Research.fm: One $5 gift card (from two surveys)
That’s around $40 total. Now, I wasn’t glued to my phone—I probably spent about 30–45 minutes a day, mostly while relaxing or multitasking. If you go all in and review consistently, some people claim to earn $100+ a month.
But the real magic is combining this with other small hustles. That’s how I started stacking up extra income while keeping it stress-free. If you’re also into testing out different side hustles, you might want to check out Making Money Online from Side Hustles to Full-Time Income for more ideas that pair perfectly with this one.
The Pros and Cons of Getting Paid to Listen to Songs
Like any side hustle, getting paid to listen to music has its ups and downs. When I first started, I thought it was all upside—until I ran into a few of the less glamorous parts. Still, I stuck with it because the pros were worth it for me.
Here’s the real breakdown from my experience:
Pros
1. You’re already doing it anyway
If you’ve got music playing during workouts, cleaning, or even just chilling, you might as well earn while you’re at it.
2. It’s flexible and mobile
You can do this while waiting at the DMV, commuting, or winding down for bed. No special equipment, no schedule—just your phone and earbuds.
3. No special skills needed
You don’t need to know music theory or have a degree in sound design. If you can type a short opinion about a track, you can earn.
4. Easy to stack with other side hustles
While your phone earns music rewards in the background, you could be doing a product review, survey, or uploading a new listing on a side business. I’ve combined this with my photo selling side hustle plenty of times—this one in particular made me a quick $100.
Cons
1. Low payouts
You won’t be quitting your job off music reviews. Most platforms pay cents, not dollars, unless you’re a playlist curator with clout.
2. Some sites feel sketchy
There are a lot of “get paid to listen” promises out there, but some platforms aren’t worth your time. You’ve got to vet them carefully to avoid wasting hours for pennies.
3. Limited availability
A few of the higher-paying sites only accept users in certain countries or require invites.
4. Repetitiveness
Let’s be honest, not every song is a hit. After rating 20 back-to-back indie tracks, I sometimes need a break to reset my ears.
Overall, the benefits far outweigh the downsides if you’re just looking to pick up some easy cash doing something you enjoy. And when combined with smarter income moves (like creating multiple income streams), it can really become part of your bigger money game plan—just like I laid out in Why I’ll Never Rely on One Income Again.
How to Spot the Scams and Stick With Legit Sites
Not all “get paid to listen to music” sites are created equal. Some promise big payouts but never deliver, and others are just click farms trying to use your time for their own gain.
Here’s what I learned to look for before wasting my energy:
1. No clear payment method? Hard pass.
If they don’t tell you how or when you’ll get paid—walk away. Real platforms are upfront about PayPal, gift cards, or bank transfers.
2. Too much hype, no proof.
Sites that sound like get-rich-quick schemes usually are. If a platform says “earn $500 a week listening to music,” it’s probably all fluff.
3. No user reviews or ratings online? Sketchy.
I always Google a site’s name + “review” before signing up. If nothing comes up or it has all 1-star reviews, I’m out.
4. They want a fee upfront? That’s a scam.
You should never pay to access “premium” music tasks. Real side hustles don’t charge you to work.
5. Clunky design or outdated layout? Not a good sign.
If the site looks like it hasn’t been updated since 2009, it’s usually because no one’s managing it—or paying you.
Stick to platforms like Slice the Pie, HitPredictor, and Current Rewards, and you’ll stay on the legit side of this hustle.
And if you’re into safe, realistic income moves, this one pairs well with how to make passive income using your phone.
Ways to Boost Your Income with Music Side Hustles
If you really want to make money listening to music consistently—not just pennies here and there—there are a few smart ways to level up. After testing the waters, I realized you can totally treat this like a real micro-hustle if you’re intentional about it.
Here’s how I boosted my earnings and made the whole thing more worth my time:
1. Join multiple platforms at once
The key is stacking. Don’t just use Slice the Pie—sign up for HitPredictor, Current Rewards, and even Research.fm if you can snag an invite. That way, you’re never stuck waiting for tasks.
2. Listen during your “dead time”
I do a ton of my music reviewing during walks, cleaning, or even when winding down at night. It’s like turning downtime into dollars.
3. Use the passive apps on loop
Apps like Current Rewards or Mode Earn App literally let you stream music and earn points passively. I plug in a chill playlist, let it run in the background, and just check in once in a while.
4. Refer friends for bonuses
Most of these platforms have referral bonuses. Share your code with friends or in online groups (Reddit has subs like r/beermoney where this does well), and you can earn even when you’re not listening.
5. Pair this with other light hustles
I often do music reviews while uploading photos to stock platforms or knocking out small surveys. It’s multitasking for money. If you’re just getting started with easy online hustles, this post on making money from side hustles to full-time income breaks it down step-by-step.
Bonus Tip: Use a dedicated Gmail
Trust me—these platforms will send a lot of emails. I created a separate Gmail just for side hustle signups and alerts so it doesn’t clutter my main inbox.
How Listening to Music Became Part of My Passive Income Plan
Once I realized I could earn while listening to music, I started viewing it as one piece of a bigger picture: building a low-stress, passive income stream lifestyle. This isn’t about becoming rich off music reviews—it’s about stacking small wins.
Here’s how this little hustle fits into my broader plan:
1. It’s consistent (when you’re consistent)
Even though each review or stream only earns a few cents, doing it daily adds up. I now treat it like brushing my teeth—just a little habit I stack onto other routines.
2. It pairs well with other income streams
While music plays through Current Rewards, I might be writing blog posts, editing stock photos, or researching the next weekend side hustle that made me $100. One income stream flows into the next.
3. It’s part of my “no wasted time” mindset
Whether it’s listening to music, uploading stock photos, or monetizing old content, I try to make every spare moment count. Passive or semi-passive income like this helps me escape the “trading time for money” trap.
If that kind of thinking hits home, check out earning while you sleep—because that article pulls together everything I’m doing to make my money work harder, even while I’m not.
