Get paid to review music: which sites actually pay?
Updated
Most "get paid to review music" sites pay cents per review to anyone who signs up (Slicethepie, Music Xray), or pay curators a small share per submission if they run a playlist or blog (SubmitHub, Groover, Playlist Push). If you are an experienced producer or DJ, platforms that vet reviewers and let creators set a real price pay far more per review. On Tracklounge you earn 80% of the creator's price.
How do the platforms compare?
| Platform | Who can join | What a review pays | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slicethepie | Anyone | Cents per review (reported around $0.05 to $0.20) | Short written rating of a clip |
| Music Xray | Anyone | Around $0.10 per track (reported), $20 minimum payout | Listen and rate |
| SubmitHub (curator) | You need a blog, playlist, channel or label | A small share of each paid submission | Accept or decline with a short reason |
| Groover (curator) | You need a media outlet, playlist, radio or label | Around €1 per submission (reported) | Accept or decline with short feedback |
| Playlist Push (curator) | You need an established playlist | Varies with your playlist's reach | Review and decide on playlisting |
| SoundBetter | Established pros, invite based for Soundcheck | You set your price, platform takes a commission | Paid consultations and services |
| Fiverr | Anyone | You set your price, Fiverr keeps 20% of each order | Compete on price for gigs |
| Tracklounge | Vetted producers and DJs (application with a sample review) | 80% of the creator's price, shown before you apply | Structured, timestamped review, quality checked |
Platform terms change often. Figures reflect public information and third-party reviews as of the date above; check each platform's own site for current rates.
Why do most "get paid to listen" sites pay so little?
Open sites let anyone review, so the supply of reviewers is huge and the feedback is shallow. The business model is volume: many short ratings, each worth very little. Side-hustle reviewers describe them as a way to earn pennies, not an income.
Curator platforms work differently. Artists pay to pitch tracks for placement, and curators earn a slice for listening and deciding. That can add up if you run a large playlist, but it is gatekeeping, not in-depth feedback, and you need an audience first.
Where can experienced producers get paid properly for feedback?
Creators who want to improve a track, not just get it placed, will pay for depth: what is wrong with the low end, why the drop falls flat, whether the vocal sits right, and what to fix first. That work needs real experience, and it is priced accordingly.
On Tracklounge, creators say what they are willing to pay per track. Verified producers and DJs apply to the requests that fit their genre. You see your exact payout before applying, write a structured review with timestamped notes, and get paid through Stripe once quality control approves it. Reviewers typically spend 30 to 60 minutes per track.
Which one should you choose?
- You want a few dollars while listening casually: Slicethepie or Music Xray.
- You run a popular playlist or blog: SubmitHub, Groover or Playlist Push.
- You are an established engineer selling services: SoundBetter or Fiverr.
- You are an experienced producer or DJ and want to be paid for in-depth feedback: apply to Tracklounge.
Paid properly for what you hear.
Apply as a producer or DJ reviewer on Tracklounge.
Frequently asked questions
Paid music reviewing
It pays, but only a few cents per review, so it is best seen as pocket money rather than income.
Yes. The pay depends on the model: open rating sites pay cents, curator platforms pay a small share per submission, and expert feedback platforms like Tracklounge pay per in-depth review at a price the creator sets.
80% of the price the creator sets for each request. If a creator is willing to pay $100, you earn $80. You see the exact payout on the listing before you apply.