Music has been a vital part of human culture for thousands of years. From ancient chants to modern pop, music has the power to evoke emotions, inspire action, and connect people across cultures and languages. With the advent of recording technology, songs have become an even more accessible and ubiquitous part of our lives. 

However, as music continues to evolve and permeate our daily routines, it’s essential to acknowledge the creators and their work through proper citation. Whether you’re a student writing a research paper, a journalist reporting on the latest hit, or simply a fan sharing your favorite song online, knowing how to cite a song in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles is crucial for maintaining academic integrity and giving credit where credit is due.

In this article, we will explore the guidelines for citing songs in these three major citation styles, so you can confidently incorporate music into your writing and ensure its creators receive the recognition they deserve.

MLA, APA, and Chicago Song Citation Guidelines

Let us begin with the basic set of rules and examples that will assist you in approaching song citations in various formats:

How to Cite a Song in MLA Format

Here’s what you’ll need for your song citation:

Note: If you have previously cited a video or other multimedia-type recording, you will be familiar with the following information:

• Start with the name of the song’s author or creator, followed by a period. For example, “Smith, John.”
• Add the song’s title in quotation marks, followed by a period. For example, “Beautiful Day.”
• Include the album name, if applicable, in italics, followed by a comma. For example, in “The Joshua Tree,”
• Add the name of the recording label, followed by a comma. For example, “Island Records.”
• Include the year of the song’s release, followed by a period. For example, “2000.”
• End with the medium of the recording, followed by a period. For example, “MP3 file.”
• An example citation for a song lyric in MLA style would be:
• Smith, John. “Beautiful Day.” The Joshua Tree, Island Records, 2000. MP3 file.

Bibliography in MLA format

Last name of the performer, first name of the performer. “Your song’s title.” The album title, album edition (if applicable), Publisher, Track number, and year of publication. URL for a website or database (no HTTP part is necessary).

“Where Dreams Go To Die,” by John Grant. Queen of Denmark, deluxe edition, Bella Union, track 3, open.spotify.com/track/4I-Y9FDC4Gn12-US0Pvv02BH

APA Citation Song

The American Psychological Association (APA) format credits a song source in the APA style lyric citation. Many Canadian universities require students to use this style when citing sources in their written work. Professionals in education, psychology, and science typically use the APA style to credit their sources. 

Here’s how to cite a source in APA format:

• Start with the name of the song’s author or creator, followed by a period. For example, “Smith, J.”
• Add the year of the song’s release in parentheses, followed by a period. For example, “(2000).”
• Include the song title in italics, followed by a period. For example, “Beautiful Day.”
• Include the album name, if applicable, in italics, followed by a period. For example, “The Joshua Tree.”
• Add the name of the recording label, followed by a comma. For example, “Island Records.”
• End with the medium of the recording, followed by a period. For example, “MP3 file.”
• An example citation for a song lyric in APA style would be:
• Smith, J. (2000). Beautiful Day. The Joshua Tree. Island Records. MP3 file.

Bibliography in APA format

Last name of the performer, first initial of the performer. (The year of publication). Song title [Recorded by Singer’s Initial, Last Name]. On the album’s title [Audio file]. The URL was retrieved.

Grant (2010). Dreams go to die here. [Audio file] The Queen of Denmark. Obtainable at: https://open.spotify.com/track/4-IY9F-DC4Gn12U-S0Pvv02BH

How to Cite Song Lyrics Chicago

Citing song lyrics in Chicago style requires following a specific format to properly acknowledge the creator of the song and the lyrics being used. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cite song lyrics in Chicago style:

Step 1: Identify the basic information about the song

• Before properly citing a song lyric in Chicago style, you need to identify the basic information about the song, including the songwriter(s), the song’s title, the performer(s), and the album title. This information can usually be found on the album’s liner notes, the songwriter’s website, or a reliable online source.

Step 2: Determine the type of source

• In Chicago style, citing song lyrics depends on whether you are quoting the lyrics from a recording or a written source, such as a book or a website. If you are quoting the lyrics from a recording, you must include the song title, performer, and album title in your citation. If you are quoting the lyrics from a written source, include the author, book or website title, publication date, and page number(s) (if available).

Step 3: Format the citation

• Once you have gathered all the necessary information, you can format your citation in Chicago style. Here are two examples, one for a recording and one for a written source:

Example 1 (Recording):

• Songwriter(s) Last Name, First Name. “Song Title.” Performer(s) First Name Last Name. Album Title. Record Label, Year.

Example: Lennon, John. “Imagine.” John Lennon. Imagine. Apple Records, 1971.

Example 2 (Written source):

• Author’s Last Name, First Name. Book or Website Title. Publication Date. Page Number(s).

Example: Cohen, Leonard. Book of Longing. McClelland and Stewart, 2006. 27.

Step 4: Add in-text citations

• In Chicago style, in-text citations are placed within the text of the paper rather than in footnotes or endnotes. When quoting song lyrics, the in-text citation should include the songwriter(s) last name, the year of the recording, and the quote’s track number or time stamp. Here is an example of an in-text citation for a song lyric:

Example: (Lennon 1971, track 1)

• Note: If the song has no specific track number, use the time stamp in minutes and seconds instead (e.g., 1:23).
• By following these steps and formatting your citation correctly, you can properly cite song lyrics in Chicago style and give credit to the song’s creators.

Consider the style guide specific to your field of study or publication for additional requirements or variations.

How to Cite Song Lyrics APA

When citing song lyrics in APA format, you should include the songwriter’s name, the song title, the album name, the recording label, and the publication year. Additionally, you will need to indicate the medium of the recording and the location of the song on the album.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to citing song lyrics in APA format:

Step 1: Gather information: Before you start citing, make sure you have all the necessary information about the song, including the songwriter’s name, song title, album name, recording label, and publication year. You can find this information on the album cover or liner notes.

Step 2: Format the citation: The basic format for citing song lyrics in APA is as follows:

Songwriter’s last name, First initial. (Year of publication). Song title [Recorded by Artist First initial. Last name]. On Album title [Medium of recording]. Recording Label. (Year of release). Location of the song on the album.

Step 3: Identify the songwriter: Start your citation with the songwriter’s last name and first initial. If there are multiple songwriters, list them all in the order they appear on the album cover.

Add the publication year: In parentheses after the songwriter’s name, include the year the song was published.

Include the song title: Next, write the title in sentence case, with only the first word capitalized.

Note the artist: After the song title, indicate the artist who recorded the song, using their first initial and last name. If multiple artists performed the song, list them in the order they appear on the album.

Add the album title: In italics, write the title of the album that the song appears on, followed by the medium of the recording (e.g., CD, digital download).

List the recording label and year: After the album title, indicate the recording label and the album’s release.

Indicate the song’s location on the album: Include the song’s location. This could be a tracking number, a side and track number for vinyl records, or a timestamp for digital recordings.

Here’s an example of a properly formatted citation for a song:

Smith, J. (2019). Dancing in the Dark [Recorded by Bruce Springsteen]. On Born in the U.S.A. [CD]. Columbia Records. (1984). Track 2.

By following these steps, you can confidently cite song lyrics in APA format and give credit to the songwriters and artists who created them.

Why Should You Cite Music in Academic Papers?

Whether you’re citing an audio recording of a symphonic orchestra performing J.S. Bach’s Siciliano or quoting Ariana Grande’s song lyrics, you must give proper credit to avoid plagiarism. It should be approached in the same manner as any book or scientific journal. It is essentially an intellectual property that should be mentioned if used for reference purposes, so learning how to cite songs in academic writing is critical.

When to Use Different Citation Styles

Your style can depend on various factors, whether APA, MLA, Chicago or a different citation style. Your teacher may direct you to a specific style if you’re writing a school assignment. Your English teacher, for example, may instruct you to use the APA style, whereas your history teacher may instruct you to use the Chicago style.

If you’re a professional citing an article, your style will be determined by your level of expertise. For example, if you’re writing an article about another photographer’s influence, you can cite your sources using the Chicago style. In contrast, if you’re an English professor writing an article comparing two authors’ writing styles, you can use the MLA style.

Bottom Line

Citing a song in your academic or professional writing is essential to acknowledge the original artist’s hard work and maintain academic integrity. In this article, we have explored the guidelines for citing a song in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles, providing you with the necessary information to cite a song in any of these styles correctly.

Remember, citing a song is as important as citing any other source. Whether you’re writing a research paper, a news article, or a blog post, properly citing your sources is crucial for maintaining academic and professional integrity.

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