How to Cite a Song in 3 Formats: APA, MLA, and Chicago!

When it comes to writing essays, referencing a song title can help your argument or make your work stand out. Whether you’re cranking up a song from Spotify or spinning a vinyl, citing music correctly is essential.

This guide is here to make the process easy and take the guesswork out of how to cite music in MLA, APA, and Chicago. You don’t need to stress about citing music ever again!

In MLA (Modern Language Association) format, songs can be cited in both in-text citations and works cited entries. Here’s how to structure each.

Citation Formats and Key Information to Include

When citing a song, the citation format you use depends on the style guide you're following—typically MLA, APA, or Chicago. Each style has specific rules, but all share the core purpose of attributing the work properly. There is also the difference between other college essay format like in-text citation and full citation. Let’s break down the format and key information for each.

MLA (Modern Language Association): 

Often used in humanities fields, MLA citations include the artist's name, song title in quotation marks, album title in italics, record label, release year, and format or source.

1. In-Text Citation for Songs in MLA

MLA requires the artist's last name in the in-text citation. If the artist's name is mentioned in the sentence, no parenthetical citation is necessary. However, if the artist's name is not mentioned, the citation should include the artist's last name in parentheses.

Example:  

2. Full Citation for a Song in MLA

In the Works Cited section, the full citation for a song typically includes the following information:

• Artist Name: Full name of the artist or group who performed the song.

• Song Title: In quotation marks.

• Album Title: Italicized.

• Publisher/Record Label: The record company or platform.

• Year of Release: The year the song was released.

• Format: Indicate if the song was accessed through streaming, CD, vinyl, etc.

• URL or Other Access Information: If you accessed the song online, include the URL or the platform.

The format for full citations is:

Artist’s Last Name, First Name. “Song Title.” Album Title, Record Label, Year. URL or Streaming Service.

Example:

Mercury, Freddie. “Bohemian Rhapsody.” A Night at the Opera, EMI, 1975. Spotify, https://spotify.com/track/xyz123.

APA (American Psychological Association): 

APA citations are common in the social sciences and are available in both in-text and full-text formats.

1. In-Text Citation for Songs (APA)

APA uses an author-date format in in-text citations. This means the author's last name and the year of publication are included in the citation. If the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, both the author's last name and the year must appear in the parenthesis.

Example: 

• If the artist’s name is not mentioned in the sentence: "The song Lover evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing" (Swift, 2019).

• If the artist's name is mentioned in the sentence: "Swift's song Lover (2019) evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing."

2. Full Citation for a Song in APA

For the References list, an APA citation for a song typically includes:

• Artist’s Name: Use the last name first.

• Year of Release: In parentheses.

• Song Title: Italicized.

• Album Title: Italicized (if applicable).

• Format: Mention whether it was a recording, streaming, or physical media.

• URL/Platform: If you accessed the song online, include the URL or the platform.

Template:

Artist’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Song Title. Album Title [Format]. URL or Streaming Service.

Example: 

Mercury, F. (1975). Bohemian Rhapsody. A Night at the Opera [Song]. Spotify. https://spotify.com/track/xyz123.

Chicago Style: 

Chicago style allows for two citation methods: author-date and notes and bibliography. Both require full details, including the artist's name, song title, album, release year, and format (CD, streaming, etc.).

1. In-Text Citation (Author-Date Style): 

The author-date style is similar to APA in that it requires the author's last name and year of release in the citation.

Example:

• If you mention the artist in the sentence: "Swift’s Lover (2019) evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing."

• If you do not mention the artist in the sentence: "The song Lover evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing (Swift 2019)."

2. In-Text Citation (Notes and Bibliography Style): 

This style requires full information (e.g., song title and artist) in the first citation and uses footnotes or endnotes instead of parenthetical citations in the body text. Here are the examples:

The first time you cite the song in the text:

"Swift’s Lover evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing."^1

Footnote (Full Citation in the first mention): Taylor Swift, Lover (Republic Records, 2019).

Subsequent mentions will use a shortened form (without the full citation):

 "The lyrics of Lover continue to resonate with fans."^2

Footnote (Shortened form for subsequent citations): 2. Swift, Lover.

3. Full Citation: 

In Chicago style, citations can be made in either footnotes (for notes and bibliography style) or in a reference list (for author-date style). The format for notes and bibliography includes full details such as the artist’s name, song title, album, release year, and format (CD, vinyl, etc.). The author-date style has a more concise reference list format.

Example:

• Author-Date Style: Swift, Taylor. 2019. Lover. Republic Records.

• Notes and Bibliography Style: Swift, Taylor. Lover. Republic Records, 2019.

How to Cite an Online Song Recording

Online songs may be streaming versions, links to digital music stores, and artist websites. They can be included as a reference in essays, research papers, or presentations.

When citing song lyrics found online, you can find them on a number of places such as lyrics websites, streaming websites, or the artist's own page. These lyrics are often used themselves as the central text of a research paper or essay or presentation, and they will need a citation.

Key Information to Note

When citing song lyrics, gather the following details:

• Lyricist's Name

• Singer’s Name

• Title of the Song (and subtitle, if applicable)

• Title of the Album (and subtitle, if applicable)

• Album Edition (if applicable)

• Publisher or Record Label

• Year of Publication

• Website or Platform where the lyrics were found

• URL

• Other Contributors (e.g., co-writers, producers, etc.)

Template:

How to Cite Song Lyrics from Online Sources in Different Formats

Here’s a table format with full citation examples for citing song lyrics from online sources in MLA, APA, and Chicago style:

Quoting Lyrics

When quoting lyrics, format the quote as you would for poetry. Use a slash (/) to separate each line of the lyrics. For example, if you were to quote the chorus of “Let It Be”, it would appear as follows:

“When I find myself in times of trouble, / Mother Mary comes to me, / Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.”

Example:

Lennon, John, and McCartney, Paul. “Let It Be.” Let It Be. Apple Records, 1970. Genius, genius.com/lyrics/let-it-be.

This format is used for lyrics under four lines.

If you are quoting four or more lines, format the lyrics as a block quote. Indent the text and omit quotation marks:

In the chorus of "Let It Be," the lyrics speak to a sense of peace and wisdom:

When I find myself in times of trouble,  
Mother Mary comes to me,  
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.  
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.

Citation Examples for Various Music Access Methods

The formatting of a musical citation will depend on if it was streaming, downloaded, or if it’s physical meaning a CD. So there is a slight difference between the virtual reference and physical, however, whatever the referencing method, all music citation should at least include composer/performer, song title, album (if applicable), and the source.

1. Citing Music Accessed via Streaming Services (e.g., Spotify)

For example, if you listed music that you heard on Spotify, for the title and album you would list the song information, followed by Spotify, and follow with the URL of the streaming service. You don't need to specify if the music was streamed or downloaded, just the platform.

Full Citation & In-Text Citation Example:

2. Citing a Song from a CD or Vinyl

For hard-music cuts, name the track and the album’s title it was retrieved, followed by the independent label accompanied by the release year, allusion to the format (CD, vinyl).

Full Citation & In-Text Citation Example:

3. Citing a Song Without an Associated Album (Single Track)

Nonetheless, if you’re citing a song that’s not part of an album, such as a single, the citation format will be similar to a song on a platform, minus the album title.

Full Citation & In-Text Citation Example:

4. Citing Classical Music or Works with Multiple Labels

If you are citing classical compositions or recordings published by many labels, substitute the performer with the composer, then the performer should be listed in square brackets. Then provide the year of publication of the version used and the original year of the composition in parentheses.

Full Citation & In-Text Citation Example:

Sources for Finding Music to Cite

Now that you’ve got the parts to properly cite songs in various formats, you should probably know where to track down the musical material you intend to reference. 

Whether you’re browsing tracks from streaming platforms, digital stores, or physical media, each of these sources require their own unique piece of the citation puzzle. 

Here’s an overview of the most common places you can find music to cite.

Online Streaming Platforms

Online streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube have become some of the most popular ways people access music today. These platforms provide easy access to millions of songs, albums, and playlists, but also offer metadata such as artist names, album titles, release years, and even the platform itself.

• Spotify: Offers full albums, singles, and playlists. When citing music from Spotify, you’ll need the artist name, song title, album title (if applicable), and a link to the track.

• Apple Music: Similar to Spotify, Apple Music provides streaming access to a wide range of songs, albums, and playlists. 

• YouTube: YouTube is a bit of a toss up, since many songs are uploaded unofficially. However, if the artist or label uploaded videos or albums, you can cite these. Provide the direct url to the video or track that you are the citing.

Music Download Stores

Just like recordings available on Annie and streaming platforms, downloaded music is considered a digital download. Examples of digital music download stores are iTunes, Google Play Music, and Amazon Music. 

These services allow individuals to purchase and download singles or entire albums. When documenting a download store in a citation, the process is the same as streaming services, just identify which service you used to download the track.

• iTunes: For a song from iTunes, be sure to list the name of the track, the name of the album (if available), the artist, the record label, and the URL of the song.

• Amazon Music: Similar to iTunes, Amazon allows you to download and purchase songs so make sure to get the details from the album or track page.

Physical Media (CDs, Vinyl, Tapes)

If you access music via a physical medium like a CD, vinyl, or cassette tape your citation will be slightly different from people who streamed it. Physical media is packaged with essential information like the artist name, song title, and the album itself. This information should typically be included. When creating a citation, you should also express the format type (CD, vinyl, etc.) that the song was accessed on.

Official Artist Websites and Music Databases

Then there are official artist websites, fan pages, music databases besides those big streaming and digital music services.

• Artist Websites: Many artists have music posted on their official website for streaming or for download. When citing music from an artist’s website, give as much information as possible. Typically, include the artist’s name, song title, album name (if available), and the URL link directly to the sound page.

• Music Databases (e.g., SoundCloud, Bandcamp): Independent musicians commonly use platforms like SoundCloud or Bandcamp to distribute their music. These music platforms deliver a wide variety of genres at your fingertips, often with a click-to-buy or stream method on the site.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve got the hang of citing songs, it’s time to try it yourself. Pick a song from your playlist and see how easily you can reference it in MLA, APA, or Chicago style. 

Whether the music is accessed through streaming, physical media, or as a single, using the right format is key to providing a clear and accurate reference in your essay! Happy citing!