How to Make Money as an AMV Editor
The first thing most editors wonder is simple: can you actually make money editing AMVs? The honest answer is yes. AMVs have grown into a real creative scene, and they are still going strong on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. The skills behind a good one, things like timing, motion, storytelling, and visual effects, are the same skills creators and brands pay for every day.
A quick word on the legal side: it is a grey area. AMVs use copyrighted anime and music, so monetizing them directly can be tricky. If you like to play it completely safe, some of these methods may not be for you. But if you are serious about turning your editing into income, the routes below are where editors actually earn.
One thing matters above everything else: your AMVs have to be good. An "AMV" that is just a fight scene slapped over a trending song to farm views will not get you far. The work that gets noticed has flow, pacing, a sense of story, and clean effects. If you are early in your journey, say one to three years in, the money may come slower, but every project sharpens skills that pay off later. Good editors are always in demand.
The starting point is the same for everyone: keep editing, find your style, and build an audience. Once people genuinely care about your work, the doors below start to open.
1. Sell digital products on Payhip
The first way to earn is to open your own digital store and sell the assets other editors want. Payhip lets you set up a store for free and sell things like project files and presets straight to your audience.
This works best once you have a community behind you. If you are just starting out, give away free content first to build a mailing list, then sell to that audience later once you have their trust. Common products AMV editors sell include:
- Project files
- Presets (After Effects or Vegas Pro)
- Overlays
- Flow packs (we do not recommend selling anime clips, as that can get your store taken down for copyright)
- SFX packs
Payhip is beginner friendly and most of your favorite AMV editors are already on it. It is free to use, with a small fee per sale, and you can check the current details on their pricing page.
Ready to start? You can open your own store in a few minutes and begin selling today:
2. Edit for an AMV music brand channel
An AMV music brand channel is a channel built around promoting music artists through AMVs. Popular ones in this space include TRASHGANG and IDLEGLANCE, and they pay editors to make AMVs for them, since artists are constantly sending them tracks to promote.
Think of it like a job: you are handed a song and a deadline, and you deliver the AMV. Some channels also let you choose from open commissions while you are on their editing team. The best way in is to follow them on their socials and watch for recruitment drives.
Not everyone who applies gets a spot, so it pays to keep sharpening your skills and getting noticed. Plenty of editors got into channels like these by nailing a trial first. Smaller channels in the same niche are a great way to gain experience early. One warning: always know your worth and watch out for people who will take your time and never pay, which unfortunately happens in this community. The trick is to be ready when an opportunity shows up.
3. Offer your editing as a service
You can also build a career by selling your services directly. List yourself on a platform like Fiverr, or simply promote on Twitter and Instagram that you take on clients and make AMVs for them.
When you are new, price realistically. Charge per minute or second of finished video, or per project, whatever fits the job. Somewhere between 10 and 50 dollars is a sensible starting range while you build experience. If finding clients on social media is slow, Fiverr can be an easier way in. Either way, the key is to promote yourself, make connections, and keep a portfolio of your best AMVs ready so clients know exactly what they are paying for.
Keep in mind that you cannot monetize videos that use copyrighted music. That is actually an opportunity: team up with small artists who are happy to let you use their songs, and promote them in return if you have a following.
4. Teach what you know
As you grow, people will start asking how you pull off certain effects. That is your cue to share what you know and earn from it. Tutorial videos on YouTube can become passive income once you hit monetization, and they double as marketing for the products in your Payhip store.
There are already plenty of AMV tutorials out there, so the goal is to stand out: teach something that is not already everywhere, and bring your own personality to it. Beyond free tutorials, you can offer private coaching sessions or sell a full crash course on making AMVs.
5. Compete in AMV events for prize money
Most AMV contests and conventions do not offer cash, but a growing number of events now come with real prize pools. Competitions like AMV tournaments and Iron Chef (IC) are a fun way to earn on the side while pushing your skills. The best way to find them is to search YouTube and join Discord communities so you stay in the loop. Following your favorite editors on Instagram is another easy way to catch what is happening in the scene.
Wrapping up
These are the most reliable ways to make money with AMVs, and there is nothing stopping you from starting today. Progress can feel slow, but slow progress is still progress. Focus on the quality of your AMVs over the quantity, stay committed, and you will get where you want to be.