Note on earnings: The specific earning figures and per-song rates in earlier versions of this post have been removed because they could not be verified. No per-song, daily, or monthly income is promised or guaranteed here. Results vary widely, and most of these methods pay very little, if anything.
Introduction
Can you make money listening to music? Well, I spent over 100 hours researching different websites and apps so you don’t have to, because just playing music in the background of whatever you are doing and making money passively sounds kind of too good to be true, but it might be. So let’s find out now. Before we look at the options, note that playing music in the background does not guarantee income, and most of these methods pay very little.
1. RadioEar.com
The first website that I came across was RadioEar.com. This is essentially a platform that pays you to listen to music on the radio. The process is straightforward: you sign up by pressing the “Sign Up” button, enter some details about yourself, including your email address, create a password, fill out the CAPTCHA, and click register. Once logged in, on the left-hand side, you can start earning by listening to the radio. You would click on “Start Radio” and listen for 15 minutes, and you get paid after that. However, when checking Trustpilot, the website has a 2-star rating, and some people complain that you can’t get rich and are barely making much per song.
2. ShrinkMe.io and Paid Short Links
The second option I tested was ShrinkMe.io, a paid short-link service where you get paid when someone clicks on your link. You can copy the song or playlist link and paste it into ShrinkMe.io. After signing up and logging in, you just click “New Shorten Link” and paste the URL. Once shortened, you can promote it through platforms like Pinterest and Imgur. Rates for short links are small and vary, so check the current terms, and don’t expect to get rich quickly, as the payments are minimal.
3. PlaylistPush
The third platform I tested is PlaylistPush, which pays you to listen to and review songs. Artists join this platform to promote their music and get feedback from everyday listeners. Trustpilot reviews suggest that it’s a relatively trusted website that pays fairly well. Per-song rates and payout timing vary and change over time, so check the platform’s current terms.
4. SoundCampaign
SoundCampaign is another platform where you can get paid per song review. Similar to PlaylistPush, you listen to a song and provide honest feedback. Sign-up is easy, just press the “Apply Now” button, and you can sign up using your Spotify account. Rates and payout timing vary, so check the current terms.
5. Like4Like.org
Another platform I used, especially as a teenager, is Like4Like.org, a social media engagement exchange marketplace. On this site, you can exchange listening to music for social media engagement, such as Instagram likes or followers. After registering, you can create an account and exchange listening time for engagement that can later be resold on other platforms. Engagement exchanges may violate platform rules, so check the rules of the platforms involved.
6. CashStar.com
CashStar.com pays you to listen to music on Spotify and YouTube. Per-song rates vary, so check the current terms. However, you’ll need to join a waiting list by entering your name and email, and sometimes it takes 2-3 months to get accepted.
7. MusicGateway.com
MusicGateway.com is a platform where artists come to promote their music, and you can get paid to listen to their songs. Sign up for free by pressing the “Apply Now” button in the curator section.
8. Pawns App
Pawns App pays you to complete various tasks, including listening to music. The payouts aren’t significant, but you can redeem your earnings through PayPal, crypto, or Amazon gift cards. Don’t expect to get rich from this app.
9. FreeCash
FreeCash is another app that lets you earn money by completing different tasks, including listening to music. Although the payout is minimal, it offers several ways to earn. You can sign up by clicking the “Sign Up” button, entering your email, and creating a password.
10. CashForMinutes
CashForMinutes is another app that pays you to listen to music, but it has one of the lowest-paying rates. However, it does have fast payments, though it is not highly recommended for making substantial income.
11. AppForever.net
AppForever.net is a platform where you can make money when someone downloads a file from your link. You can upload copyright-free music from platforms like Pixabay. After uploading, you can share the download link on platforms like Pinterest, Twitter, or Facebook. Rates per download are small and vary, but promoting your link creatively is key.
12. Faceless YouTube Channels
A unique way I’ve seen people make money is through faceless YouTube channels, where users post lyrics videos or other music-related content and monetize through various methods. Some creators report large monthly earnings from posting music videos or lyrics, but those figures are unverified and not typical, and this method is more advanced and not suitable for beginners.
13. Cash Magnet App
Cash Magnet is an app that runs in the background while you listen to music. It’s not a huge income, and background earning may be limited by the app, but it’s an easy way to make a small amount.
14. Fiverr Music Review Gigs
Another unique way to earn money is by offering music review services on Fiverr. You can charge people for giving honest feedback on their songs. Sellers set their own prices, and demand and income are not guaranteed.
15. Starting a Passive Income Business
My favorite way of making money by listening to music is by starting a passive income online business. When I’m not doing anything and listening to music, I still continue to make money from earlier work. For example, a faceless video published years ago can keep earning for a time, but past earnings are not a promise of future income, and so-called passive businesses still need ongoing work. Many people in the online business community are making passive income through YouTube automation or other passive income businesses that they set up once and continue to earn from without actively working — but that description leaves out the ongoing effort most such businesses need.
Conclusion
So now you know multiple ways people are making money by listening to music. The best part is that many of these methods allow you to earn small amounts, even while you’re enjoying music, but none of them guarantees income. If you want to learn more about passive income strategies, I’ll link the video in the description box that explains how people try to make money online while they sleep.
