How to cite a song in MLA
Here are two forms to cite a song depending on where you accessed it. The first one is for songs on CDs, vinyls, cassettes, etc. Variant B is for songs available on streaming platforms or online.
To cite a song in a reference entry in MLA style 9th edition include the following elements:
- Artist(s) name: Give the name of the artist, or band name in full.
- Title of the song: Titles are italicized when independent. If part of a larger source add quotation marks and do not italize.
- Name of the album: Container titles are italicized and followed by a comma.
- Publisher: If the name of an academic press contains the words University and Press, use UP e.g. Oxford UP instead of Oxford University Press. If the word "University" doesn't appear, spell out the Press e.g. MIT Press.
- year of release: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.
- Song format: Describe the song format, e.g: CD, Vinyl, etc.
Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a song in MLA style 9th edition:
. "Title of the song." Name of the album, Publisher, year of release. Song format.
Take a look at our works cited examples that demonstrate the MLA style guidelines in action:
A song by a band retrieved from a CD
. "Hunger." High as Hope, Virgin EMI, 2018. CD.
A song by a band retrieved from a streaming platform
. "Pretty Hurts." Beyoncé, Parkwood Entertainment, 2013, https://www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/?media_view=songs.
MLA in-text citation of a song
Audio-visual material uses the specific time of the audio/video for in-text citations.
(Last name time) or (Short form of title time).
A song by a band retrieved from a streaming platform
The chorus of the song shows characteristic tunes of indie music (Florence 00:01:43-00:2:20).
This citation style guide is based on the MLA Handbook (9th edition).