Music enriches our lives and often finds its way into academic work, whether you’re analyzing lyrics, discussing musical themes, or using songs as examples in presentations. Properly citing these musical sources is crucial for academic integrity and giving credit where it’s due. However, knowing How To Cite A Song, especially from digital platforms like iTunes or Spotify, can be confusing.
Fear not! This guide will demystify the process of citing songs in three major citation styles: MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), and Chicago. Whether you’re referencing a chart-topping pop song or a deep-cut jazz track, we’ll provide clear, step-by-step instructions and examples to ensure your citations are accurate and correctly formatted.
This guide will primarily focus on citing songs accessed through digital music services, using iTunes as our main example, similar to the original source. The principles, however, apply broadly to songs found on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or even YouTube Music. Let’s dive into the specifics of each citation style to make citing songs a breeze.
Citing a Song in MLA Format (9th Edition)
MLA format is commonly used in humanities disciplines. When citing a song in MLA 9th edition, the structure is as follows:
Template:
Performer Last Name, First Name (or Band Name). “Song Title.” Album Title, Container (e.g., iTunes app, Spotify), Version (if applicable), Publisher/Record Label, Publication Year.
Example:
Let’s use Pharrell Williams’s popular song “Happy” as an example, accessed from iTunes:
Williams, Pharrell. “Happy.” GIRL, iTunes app, Columbia Records, 2014.
Key elements to note for MLA:
- Performer: Start with the performer’s name (last name, first name) or the band’s name.
- Song Title: Enclose the song title in quotation marks.
- Album Title: Italicize the album title.
- Container: Specify the platform where you accessed the song (e.g., iTunes app, Spotify, YouTube Music). Italicize the container.
- Publisher/Record Label: Include the record label.
- Publication Year: Use the year the song was published.
For in-text citations in MLA, you would typically use the performer’s last name and the song title (or a shortened version if the title is long) in parentheses: (Williams, “Happy”).
Citing a Song in APA Format (7th Edition)
APA style is widely used in social sciences. The APA format for citing a song emphasizes the songwriter and recording details.
Template:
Songwriter Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Year Published). Song title [Recorded by Performer First Initial. Middle Initial. Last Name, if different from songwriter]. On Album title [Audio file]. Retrieved from URL
Example:
Using “Happy” by Pharrell Williams again:
Williams, P. (2014). Happy. [Recorded by P. Williams]. On GIRL [Audio file]. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/us/album/happy-from-despicable-me-2/863835302?i=863835363
Important aspects of APA citation:
- Songwriter: Begin with the songwriter’s last name and initials. If the performer is different, include their name after “Recorded by.” In this case, Pharrell Williams is both songwriter and performer, so we indicate that.
- Year Published: Provide the year of publication in parentheses.
- Song Title: Italicize the song title.
- [Audio file]: Indicate the format as an “Audio file” in square brackets.
- Album Title: Italicize the album title and place “On” before it.
- Retrieved from URL: Include the URL where you accessed the song.
For APA in-text citations, use the songwriter’s last name and year of publication: (Williams, 2014).
Citing a Song in Chicago Style (Notes-Bibliography)
Chicago style has two main systems: notes and bibliography and author-date. Here, we’ll focus on the notes and bibliography style, which is common in humanities, including music studies. In Chicago style, audio recordings are often listed in a separate “Discography” rather than a general bibliography, but you can include them in the bibliography with a clear heading.
Note Template:
Full name of the album’s main performer or composer, “Song Title,” with song contributors, medium or streaming service, recorded Date if different from date published, track # on Album Title, Publisher or Recording Company, Date published.
Note Example:
Pharrell Williams, “Happy,” iTunes audio, track 3 on GIRL, Columbia Records, 2014, https://music.apple.com/us/album/happy-from-despicable-me-2/863835302?i=863835363.
Bibliography Entry Template:
Performer Last name, First name. “Song Title.” Album Title. Medium or Streaming Service. Publisher or Recording Company, Date published.
Bibliography Example:
Williams, Pharrell. “Happy.” GIRL. iTunes audio. Columbia Records, 2014.
Key points for Chicago style:
- Full Name in Notes: Use the performer’s full name in the first note.
- Song Title in Quotes: Song titles are in quotation marks.
- Album Title in Italics: Album titles are italicized.
- Medium: Specify “iTunes audio” (or Spotify, etc.).
- URL (Optional in Bibliography, Recommended in Notes): Including the URL is helpful, especially in notes.
- Discography: Consider creating a separate discography section for music sources.
For subsequent notes, you can use a shortened form, like: Williams, “Happy.”
Citing Songs from Other Music Platforms
The core principles for citing songs remain consistent whether you are using iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube Music, or other platforms. Simply adjust the “Container” or “Medium” element in your citation to reflect the specific platform you used. For instance, in MLA, you would replace “iTunes app” with “Spotify” or “YouTube Music“. In Chicago style, you’d change “iTunes audio” to “Spotify streaming audio“.
Remember to always prioritize accuracy and consistency when citing your sources. By following these guidelines, you can confidently cite songs in your academic and professional work, regardless of the citation style required. Properly citing music not only avoids plagiarism but also adds credibility and depth to your analysis.
