Citing a song
Published February 3, 2021. Updated November 13, 2021.
To create a song reference or citation, you will need to know the title of the song/album, contributors, and production details.
The templates and examples below will show you how to cite a song in MLA, APA, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing.
Easily cite a song in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator.
Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing plagiarism checker and citation generator.
Citing a song in MLA style
The title of the song should be in title case and enclosed with double quotes, and the title of the album should be in title case and italicized.
In-text citation template and example:
(Author Last Name, or Full Stage Name)
(Lady Gaga)
Works cited entry template and example:
Author Surname, First Name or Full Stage Name. “Title of the song in sentence case.” Title of the Album in Title Case, Publisher, Publication Year.
Lady Gaga. “Poker Face.” The Fame, Record Plant, 2008.
For more examples and information, view our citing a song in MLA guide.
Citing a song in APA style
The title of the song should be in sentence case, and the title of the album should be in sentence case and italicized.
In-text citation template and example:
(Author Surname or Full Stage Name, Publication Year)
(Springsteen, 2020)
Reference list entry template and example:
Author Surname, First Name or Full Stage Name. (Publication Year). Title of the song in sentence case [song]. On Title of the Album in Title Case, Publisher.
Springsteen, B. (2002). My city of ruins [Song]. On The rising, Columbia Records.
For more examples and information, view our citing a song in APA guide.
Citing a song in Chicago style, notes-bibliography
The title of the song should be in title case and enclosed with double quotes, and the title of the album should be in title case and italicized.
Footnotes template and example:
Note
Author First Name Surname (or Full Stage Name), “Title of the Song in Title Case,” track number on Title of the Album in Title Case, Publisher, Publication Year.
Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice,” track 3 on Taking the Long Way, Columbia Nashville, 2006.
Shortened note
3. Author Surname (or Full Stage Name), “Song Title.”
4. Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice.”
Bibliography entry template and example:
Author Surname, First Name (or Full Stage Name). “Title of the Song in Title Case.” Track number on Title of the Album in Title Case. Publisher. Publication Year.
Dixie Chicks. “Not Ready to Make Nice.” Track 3 on Taking the Long Way. Columbia Nashville. 2006.
For more examples and information, view our citing a song in Chicago Style guide.
Citing a song in Chicago style, author-date
The title of the song should be in title case and enclosed with double quotes, and the title of the album should be in title case and italicized.
In-text citation template and example:
(Author Surname or Full Stage Name Publication Year)
(Aguilera 2002)
Reference list entry template and example:
Author Surname, First Name or Full Stage Name. Publication Year. “Title of the Song in Title Case.” Track number on Title of the Album in Title Case. Publisher.
Aguilera, Christina. 2002. “Beautiful.” Track number 11 on Stripped. RCA.
For more examples and information, view our citing a song in Chicago Style guide.
How to cite a song in Harvard referencing style
The title of the song should be sentence case and enclosed with single quotes and title of the album should be in title case and italicized.
In-text citation template and example:
(Artist Surname/Band Name, Publication Year)
(Linkin Park, 2000)
Reference list entry template and example:
Band Name/Artist Surname, First initial. (Publication Year) ‘Title of the song in sentence case’, Title of the Album in Title Case [CD/Vinyl, catalogue number]. Place of distribution: Distributor.
Linkin Park (2000) ‘One step closer’, Hybrid Theory [CD, 12345]. New York: Warner Bros.
For more examples and information, view our citing a song in Harvard Referencing Style guide.
Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.
Citation Examples
Websites
: Website | Tweet | Wikipedia | Blog | Government website | Database | Report | Magazine | Newspaper | Editorial | Article | Journal | Press release | PDFDigital Media
: Documentary | Image | Movie | Photo | Podcast | Song | TV show | YouTube video | Advertisement | Social MediaBooks
: Book | Bible | Textbook | Book chapter | Edited book | Dictionary | Encyclopedia | eBook | Translated BookPersonal Communication
: Interview | Lecture | Speech | Ted Talk | Webinar | Conference | Email | Letter | SurveyGovernment Documents
: Bill/Law | US Constitution | Policy | Congress | Court Case | PatentAdditional Sources
: Dissertation | Archive Material | Software | Syllabus | Newsletter | Pamphlet or brochure | Painting | Play | Statue | Poem | Case study | White paper | Foreign LanguageFrequently asked questions
To cite music in MLA style, the core elements required are the name of the artist, the title of the song, the title of the album, the production company name, publication date, and the platform name and/or URL. The table below shows how to format the in-text citation and the works-cited entry for music in MLA.
In-text citation
Template:
(Artist’s Surname)
Example:
(Beyoncé)
Work-cited entry
Template:
Artist’s Surname, First Name. “Title of the Song.” Title of Album, Production Company, Date, Platform Name and/or URL.
Example:
Surname, First Name. “Title of the Song.” Title of Album, Production Company, Date, Platform Name and/or URL.Beyoncé. “Rocket.” Beyoncé, Parkwood Entertainment, 2013, www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/songs/.
To cite lyrics in APA, the core elements required are the performer’s name, song title, name of the publisher, and date. The below examples show how the in-text citation and the reference list entry are included for lyrics in APA.
In-text citation template and example:
(Performer’s Surname, Publication Year, timestamp of lyric)
(Beyoncé, 2019, 04:20)
Reference list entry template and example:
Performer’s Surname, First Initial. (2019). Title of the song [Song]. On Name of the Album. Publisher.
Beyoncé. (2019). My power [Song]. On Beyoncé: Platinum Edition. Parkwood/Columbia.
Note
If the song you are citing does not belong to a larger album, that section of the reference list citation can be omitted.
To cite a song lyric full citation, both MLA and APA styles recommend using the performer’s name, song title, name of the publisher, date, and URL. Below are the templates and examples of citing a song lyric.
MLA works cited template and example:
Performer’s Surname, First Name. “Title of the Song.” Album Name, Publisher, date, URL. Transcript of lyrics.
Beyoncé. “No Angel.” Beyoncé, Parkwood Entertainment, 2013, www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/lyrics. Transcript of lyrics
APA reference list template and example:
Performer’s Surname, First Initial. (Year). Title of the song [Song lyrics]. On Album Name. Publisher. URL
Beyoncé. (2013). No angel [Song lyrics]. On Beyoncé: Platinum Edition. Parkwood Entertainment. www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/lyrics
Unlock more help for your courses
Nail down everything from main ideas to small edits: real expert proofreading, plagiarism scans, and instant grammar checks 24/7