How much can you earn reviewing music?
Updated
It depends on the kind of review. "Get paid to listen" sites pay cents per track. Curator platforms pay a small share per submission. In-depth expert reviews pay per review: on Tracklounge the creator sets the price, the minimum is $10 ($8 to you), most requests so far have been $20 to $30, and you keep 80%. A $25 request pays you $20 for 30 to 60 minutes of work.
What does each type of music review pay?
"Reviewing music" covers three very different jobs. The pay follows the depth of the work and who is allowed to do it.
| Type of review | Who can do it | Typical pay | Work per review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listen and rate (Slicethepie, Music Xray) | Anyone | Cents per track | A short star rating or a few sentences |
| Curator or blog submissions (SubmitHub, Groover) | Curators with a playlist, blog or channel | A small share of each paid submission (around €1 on Groover, reported) | Accept or decline, a short comment |
| Expert track review (Tracklounge) | Vetted producers and DJs | 80% of the creator's price. Minimum $8, most requests $16 to $24 to you so far | A structured report with timestamped notes |
| Private feedback or mix consult | Engineers and producers with a client base | Whatever you charge | Your own format, your own clients |
How does pay work on Tracklounge?
- The creator sets the price. Each request shows what the creator is willing to pay. The minimum is $10.
- You keep 80%. The platform fee is 20%. A $25 request pays you $20, a $30 request pays you $24.
- You see the payout first. Every listing shows your exact payout before you apply, so there are no surprises.
- Rush pays more. Rush requests (delivered within 24 hours) cost the creator 1.5 times as much, and your 80% share grows with it.
- Extras pay extra. Revision rounds and DJ test spins are paid on top of the review.
- Paid through Stripe. The money is released to your connected Stripe account once your review passes quality control.
What does that work out to per hour?
Most producers spend 30 to 60 minutes on a review, and most DJ reviews take 20 to 40 minutes. At $20 per review that is roughly $20 to $40 an hour, more for rush requests and for reviewers who work fast with the structured template.
It is not a salary. It is flexible income on top of releases, gigs, mixing or a day job: you choose which tracks to apply for, there are no minimums, and you can pause any time.
How do reviewers earn more?
- Stay in your genre. Creators choose reviewers who know their sound. Specialists get picked more often than generalists.
- Write a strong bio. Your public profile is what creators see. Credits, labels and the artists you work with make the difference. See the reviewers for examples.
- Deliver on time. Late reviews are refunded to the creator. Fast, reliable reviewers get more repeat requests.
- Be specific. Timestamped notes with a clear fix are what creators rate highly, and good ratings lead to more work.
See what tracks pay before you apply.
Apply as a reviewer. Every listing shows your exact payout, and you keep 80% of it.
Frequently asked questions
Reviewer pay
Rarely on its own. Paid reviewing works best as a flexible side income next to releases, gigs, mixing or teaching. Expert reviews pay per review, so income grows with how many you take on.
The minimum request is $10, which pays you $8. Most requests so far have been $20 to $30, which pays $16 to $24.
Once your review passes quality control, the payout is released to your Stripe account.
No. Applying and reviewing are free. Tracklounge keeps 20% of each request.