How to make money listening to music: the simple, honest guide

Can you really make money listening to music in 2025?

Getting paid to listen to music sounds like one of those “make £500 a day from your sofa” claims that ends in tears.

The truth is more boring, but still handy.

Yes, there are apps and websites that pay you a bit of money or gift cards to listen to songs, rate tracks, or leave short reviews.

No, it is not big money. You are looking at pennies, not pounds, for each song.

Used in the right way, it can be a gentle little top-up while you are already listening to something in the background.

This guide walks through how it works now in 2025, which apps are worth a look, and when you are better off doing something else.

How this “paid to listen” trick actually works

Most of these sites make money from record labels, radio research, or advertising. In return, they pay you tiny amounts to:

• listen to new songs
• rate how much you like them
• write a short review
• or just let a music station play while their ads run

You are basically cheap market research.

The nice bit is that you do not need special skills. If you can type a few sentences and say whether you liked a song or not, you are qualified.

The catch is time. To get anything close to a decent payout, you need to be patient and treat it as background noise, not a serious wage.

Slicethepie in 2025: still paying, but slower going

Slicethepie is still the main “get paid to review music” site people talk about. You listen to 90 seconds of a track, write a short review, rate it out of 10, and your balance goes up a few cents at a time.

You can also review adverts, fashion items and other products.

The key details right now:

• you are paid in US dollars, even in the UK.
• what you earn per review depends on your “star rating” and the type of item you review. The better and more detailed your reviews, the more you tend to earn.
• you can earn around $0.03 to $0.12 per review, with some bonus items paying a bit more.
• older guides say you can cash out at $10, but there is definitely a $20 minimum in my account.

You can withdraw to PayPal or to Revolut, where you avoid PayPal’s usual transaction fees.

If you like the idea of writing, it can be fun to:

• focus on bonus reviews when they appear, as they pay a bit more
• give proper feedback rather than copying the same sentence every time
• stack it with other low-effort tasks while the kettle boils or you scroll telly

How much you actually earn

Most people get between 2p and 5p per review, depending on the category and their rating. Bonus reviews pay more when available.

If you work steadily, you might reach $1 or $2 per hour. It’s small, but it can build up across a week if you’re doing it in the background.

Used in the right way, it becomes pocket money for treats or a sinking fund top-up. Used as a serious “job”, it’ll leave you disappointed.

Read next: 50+ best side hustles you can start today

Other music-earning options that still work

There are loads of lists online claiming you can make money listening to music, but many include sites that shut down years ago.

After checking what’s actually active in 2025, here are the only options worth your time.

Earnably

Earnably pays points for a mix of activities, and every so often, you’ll find tasks for listening to radio stations or music videos. It’s free, easy and low-pressure.

You won’t earn a lot, but it’s steady and reliable and works well alongside Slicethepie.

Mode Earn (also called Current Rewards)

This is one of the few apps that still pays for background listening. You earn points for using their music stations, charging your phone, watching short ads and doing simple tasks. However, it’s not available on the Apple App Store, but on the Android/Google Play Store.

You can cash out through PayPal or gift cards once you reach the minimum.

It works best if you have music on for long stretches and don’t mind ads. If you only use it for 10 minutes a day, you won’t get far.

SubmitHub (for people who already create music content)

SubmitHub isn’t a typical money-for-listening site. It’s for people who already run:

• playlists
• music blogs
• TikTok or Instagram accounts using music

You can get paid to review songs or feature tracks in your content.

For most readers, this isn’t the right starting point, but for music lovers who already have an audience, it can turn into a small income stream.

Final thoughts

Listening to music for money will never replace a proper wage, but it can be a relaxing way to earn a few pennies without thinking too hard.

If you enjoy discovering new artists or want something simple you can do in the evenings, it’s a harmless little boost.

Keep expectations low, stack it with other tasks, and stick to the sites that actually pay.