How to Earn Money Making Playlists and Listening to Music

AI poweredThe short version

You can earn up to $6 per hour on music review platforms.
Multiple platforms pay you a decent amount to review new releases and create playlists.
You need to already have a decent organic following on your listening platform (typically Spotify).
You can monetize a YouTube channel and create music playlists to earn viewers by simply playing music as a long-term commitment.

Create Playlists and Review Songs

Side Gig	Pay	Time Until Paid	Difficulty
Create Spotify playlists	$14 per review (two-hour review)	One to two days	Easy to moderate

Creating playlists and reviewing songs is one way of getting paid to listen to music, earning up to $14 per review. Listen to music you enjoy and add it to a relevant playlist on Spotify.

Platforms use your stats and opinions to connect artists with organic listeners who actually enjoy their music.

Understand Why Artists Pay for Reviews

Artists pay curators to help them reach the right audiences and learn what resonates with broader listeners. It's a straightforward exchange: honest feedback that helps musicians grow, in return for a small payment.

Get Started with Music Review Platforms

A few popular platforms connect curators with artists looking for Spotify playlist placements. Most require an active Spotify account.

Playlist Push: A well-reviewed platform that pays curators for each approved review.
MusicGateway: Pays you to review tracks and build an organic following from your Spotify playlists.
SoundCampaign: Pays $14 per review with direct bank transfers, focused on independent artists.

Once signed up, follow these steps to start earning:

Sign up for one of the platforms above.
Connect your Spotify profile to streamline playlist creation.
Listen to submitted tracks and write a review for each.
Organize music by genre into separate Spotify playlists to build more engaging collections for listeners.

Detailed, thoughtful feedback gives indie artists the clearest picture of what's working. If discovering new music isn't your thing, this side gig probably won't hold your interest.

SoundCampaign dashboard showing a music review campaign for an independent artist · February, 2025

Freecash is a rewards platform where you can also earn by playing games for real rewards, completing offers, and answering surveys.

Take on Freelance Listening Gigs

Side Gig	Pay	Time Until Paid	Difficulty
Freelance listening gigs	$5 to $10 per hour	One day	Easy

Freelance platforms host small gigs that pay up to $10 per hour for listening to music. Once you have a solid profile on Upwork or Fiverr, searching for these gigs is straightforward.

The Freecash vs. Fiverr breakdown compares both platforms to help decide which suits you better.

Artists use platforms like these to grow their listener base by paying people to engage with their music. No music background is required for most of these gigs.

Apply, show genuine interest, and most clients respond quickly.

Only accept gigs from verified talent seekers. Never click links attached to an offer before formally accepting it through the platform.

Use Radio Apps That Pay

Some radio apps pay you to keep them running in the background. RadioEarn is one example.

Play all three of its stations simultaneously throughout the day to earn around $10 per month. The effort is minimal: press play and leave it running.

Other platforms that pay for listening include:

To get started, visit each platform's sign-up page and complete the registration. Most ask for basic details only.

Follow the setup instructions to connect the app, and it runs from there.