Audiobooks and podcasts have increased the amount of headphone usage. People don’t have time to stand and hold a book to consume content in today’s fast-paced world. Wearing headphones whilst running, walking, working and doing other things with your hands is commonplace these days.

Earbuds have been a revelation in recent times as they avoid all the tangled and damaged wires that a wired set of headphones are prone to. Most people you see out and about wearing headphones these days are using earbuds.

Within the music and sound niche, the sub-niche of headphones is filled with lots of big websites and brands reviewing headphones.

Status: Difficult space to get into, but it will always have opportunities as headphones are always going to be around.

Top Opportunities

• Gaming headsets – With the rise of Esports and competitive gaming, gaming headsets are one of the most common types of headphones purchased these days. Reviews and help for popular headset brands, such as Razer, SteelSeries, HyperX, Corsair, and Turtle Beach, are always sought after.
• Cleaning headphones – With headphones being used so much, people always want to know how to clean wax and dirt off headphones without damaging them. An idea is to create different guides (especially videos) on how to clean different types of headphones at home with various household items.
• Solving technical issues – Because there are new releases of headphones every day, it creates more technical issues to troubleshoot and solve. Video tutorials on how to fix Bluetooth connecting issues, volume control trouble and general audio issues for different models are always in demand.
• Health issues wearing headphones – One of the most common headphone questions is whether they create a dent in your head, showing that people are conscious of the health impacts of wearing them. People are also interested in how wearing headphones can damage your ears, create tinnitus, and cause hearing loss and infections. It overlaps with the health niche, and a popular sub-niche is hearing protection for things such as going to music gigs, construction work, using machinery and people with sensory issues such as Autism.
• VR or AR headset sound – A potential upcoming sub-niche for sound and headphones could be to do with VR or AR sound. Virtual reality headsets or glasses are on the rise, and all use some form of sound, creating an opportunity to suggest headphones to be used with different models.
• General reviews – Always popular, especially in video format. Make sure you actually get your hands on the headphones to review or get someone else with them to do a review for you. The competition is stiff in this space, but there are always opportunities to give an honest, personal opinion on how headphones work, sound and look.

Challenges

• Cheap earbuds – With the rise of earbuds in recent times, there’s lots of poorly manufactured in-ear headphones going around. You’ll find a lot of the cheaper earbuds on the market are just the same, poor-quality models re-branded over and over. If you’re promoting or selling headphones, these types of earbuds are best kept away from.
• People using headphones whilst driving – A commonly asked question with headphones is whether you can wear them whilst driving. Although it’s still legal to wear headphones while driving in many places across the world, it’s not recommended as they can become an unnecessary distraction. With in-ear headphone use on the rise, trying to promote other, safer ways to consume audio when driving is an idea.
• Trying to promote healthy usage – Wireless in-ear headphones have changed the whole headphone usage game. More and more people wear earbuds in public, at work, working out and even in social settings because of how practical they are. Trying to promote a healthy amount of headphone usage from a social, health and safety point of view can only be beneficial.
• Review competition – The whole headphone space is very competitive, with many big media brands producing in-depth headphone reviews at scale. You have to find a unique angle for reviewing headphones, ensuring you’re authentic and give your own opinion of a model rather than regurgitating what another headphone review says.

Headphone Affiliate Programs

• Sennheiser
• Bose
• Sony
• Steelseries
• HyperX
• Amazon Associates

The smart home niche also includes lots of related sound technology such as the Amazon Echo, Google Home, soundbars, Bluetooth speakers etc.

Although reviews of sound and audio equipment are great ways to get into the sound space, there’s plenty of other angles to enter it, such as troubleshooting audio issues for technology and electronics.

Music production is one of the biggest sub-niches within this space and is being shaken up like many industries with the use of AI for producing digital music.

Status: Sound will always remain relevant in some capacity with plenty of opportunities, especially in the technology and electronics space with stuff like headphones.

Top Opportunities

• Headphone reviews – Nearly everyone uses headphones. Video reviews are probably best here if you can get your hands on them physically or even get someone else who has them to do a review for you.
• VR headset sound – With VR and augmented reality progressing rapidly over the next few years, there will be opportunities to get into how sound is consumed with these headsets.
• Fixing audio issues with technology and electronics such as headphones, PCs, tablets and smartphones – Quick videos showing how to resolve these issues are popular.
• Teaching DAWs – People are always interested in learning how to make digital music with programs such as Ableton, Logic Pro, and FL Studio.
• Music production equipment – Music production equipment such as headphones, midi controllers, audio interfaces and microphones are the types of sound equipment music producers are interested in reviews for. Ideas and advice on home studio setups are always popular and can include higher-priced stuff such as desks, monitors, speakers etc.
• AI can be used to help make songs and chord progressions.

Things To Watch Out For

• Some music equipment needs expertise to review and compete with other sites or channels.
• Junk headphones – Cheap earbuds that are rebranded over and over are best avoided.
• A lot of sound technology, especially more expensive stuff, is heavily covered by big media brands that are sent it out for free in exchange for a review.
• It’s hard to keep up with troubleshooting guides in the sound space as it moves so fast with new releases.

Affiliate Programs

• Spotify
• Audible
• Skillshare – Promote music courses
• Teachable – Promote music courses
• Andertons – Music equipment and gear
• Guitar Center – Guitars and other musical equipment
• Gear4music – Music equipment and gear

Sound Sites for Sale