How to Cite a Song in Academic and Creative Works: A Comprehensive Guide

Music, a universal language, permeates our lives, influencing our emotions, shaping our cultures, and enriching our creative expressions. Whether you’re writing a research paper, composing an academic analysis, or crafting a creative piece, incorporating musical references can add depth and resonance to your work. However, like any other source, it’s crucial to cite songs correctly to avoid plagiarism and give proper credit to the artists and creators. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of citing songs, addressing various citation styles and scenarios, ensuring your work is both credible and ethically sound.

Why Proper Citation Matters

Before delving into the ‘how,’ let’s emphasize the ‘why.’ Proper citation is paramount for several reasons:

• Avoiding Plagiarism: Using someone else’s intellectual property without proper attribution constitutes plagiarism, a serious academic and ethical offense. Citing music ensures you’re not claiming another’s work as your own.
• Giving Credit: Musicians and songwriters invest significant time and effort into their craft. Citing their work acknowledges their contribution and honors their creativity.
• Enhancing Credibility: Accurate citations demonstrate thorough research and attention to detail, bolstering the credibility of your work. It shows you’ve engaged with existing scholarship and resources.
• Allowing Verification: Citations provide readers with the information needed to locate and verify the sources you’ve used, enabling them to explore the topic further.
• Supporting Analysis: Clear citations help you and your readers to easily track where a specific song is being referenced within your work, enabling a clearer understanding of your analysis and arguments.

Understanding Different Citation Styles

The specific method for citing a song varies depending on the citation style you’re using. The most common styles include:

• MLA (Modern Language Association): Widely used in humanities disciplines.
• APA (American Psychological Association): Commonly used in social sciences.
• Chicago (Turabian): Used in history, fine arts, and other fields. It has two variations: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date
• Harvard: Used in many social sciences and humanities disciplines in UK and Australia.

It’s crucial to adhere to the specific requirements of the citation style mandated by your instructor, institution, or publication. Always refer to the latest edition of the style guide for the most up-to-date guidelines.

General Elements for Song Citations

Regardless of the citation style, certain core elements are typically included when citing a song:

• Artist(s): The performing musician(s) or band.
• Song Title: The name of the song, usually placed in quotation marks.
• Album Title: The name of the album the song appears on, usually italicized.
• Label: The record label that released the album.
• Year: The year the album was released.
• Track Number (Optional): Useful when citing a specific part of a longer track, but not typically included in basic citations.
• Medium: (e.g., CD, vinyl record, streaming, download, online video etc.).
• URL or DOI (Optional) : For online music sources, including the URL or DOI is necessary.

Citing Songs using MLA Style (9th Edition)

The MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. Here’s a breakdown of how to cite a song using the 9th edition of the MLA Handbook:

Basic In-Text Citation (Parenthetical)

When referring to a song in your text, you’ll typically use an in-text citation, usually including the artist’s name and the song title or a shortened version of it in parentheses. The format depends on whether you mention the artist’s name in your sentence or not.

Example 1 (Artist’s name in the sentence):

In “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Queen blends rock and operatic elements seamlessly.

Example 2 (Artist’s name not in the sentence):

The song’s unique structure challenges conventional pop songwriting (Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”).

Works Cited Entry

The full citation for a song in the Works Cited page follows a specific format:

Format:

Artist(s). “Song Title.” Album Title, Label, Year, Medium.

Example:

Queen. “Bohemian Rhapsody.” A Night at the Opera, EMI, 1975, Vinyl Record.

Variations:

• Multiple Artists: If a song has multiple artists, list them as they appear on the recording, separated by commas, with ‘and’ before the last artist. (e.g., Smith, John, and Jane Doe).
• Streaming Service: If you access the song via a streaming service, include the service name as the publisher and the URL (without the “https://”) at the end. (e.g.,…Spotify, spotify.com/some/song/url).
• Digital Download: If using a digital download, include “Digital download”.
• If there’s an additional author e.g., composer and performer are different use format: Composer Last Name, First Name. “Song Title.” Album Title, performed by Performer First Name Last Name, Label, Year, Medium.

Example of Streaming Service Citation:

Lizzo. “Good as Hell.” Cuz I Love You, Atlantic, 2019, Spotify, spotify.com/album/50r5jHj86GvD1zJtE1n5vI.

Additional MLA Considerations

• No Author (Rare Case): If a song doesn’t list a specific artist, use the song title as the first element in the citation.
• Indirect Quotations: When paraphrasing or referring to an idea from a song, still use in-text citation.
• Multiple Songs from the Same Artist: If you’re citing multiple songs by the same artist, arrange them alphabetically by song title in the Works Cited. Use three hyphens in place of the author’s name for all entries after the first one.

Citing Songs using APA Style (7th Edition)

APA style prioritizes author-date referencing. Here’s how to cite a song using the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual:

Basic In-Text Citation (Parenthetical)

APA in-text citations consist of the artist’s last name(s) and the year of the album release, usually within parentheses. If you mention the artist in your sentence, only the year in parentheses is required.

Example 1 (Artist’s name in the sentence):

Queen (1975) presented a complex blend of rock and operatic themes in “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Example 2 (Artist’s name not in the sentence):

The song’s intricate structure defied traditional songwriting conventions (Queen, 1975).

References List Entry

The full citation in the References list follows this format:

Format:

Artist(s). (Year). Song Title [Song]. On Album Title. Label.

Example:

Queen. (1975). Bohemian Rhapsody [Song]. On A Night at the Opera. EMI.

Variations:

• Multiple Artists: List all names, separated by commas, with an ampersand (&) before the last name. (e.g., Smith, J., & Doe, J.).
• Streaming Service/Digital Download: If from a streaming service/digital download include the label, the source and the url or doi. (e.g. (1975). Bohemian Rhapsody [Song]. On A Night at the Opera. EMI. Spotify. https://spotify.com/some/song/url).
• Different Composer and Performer: Composer Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Song title [Song]. On Album Title, Performed by Performer First Initial Last Name, Label, source (if necessary), URL or DOI (if necessary)

Example of Streaming Service Citation:

Lizzo. (2019). Good as Hell [Song]. On Cuz I Love You. Atlantic. Spotify, https://spotify.com/album/50r5jHj86GvD1zJtE1n5vI.

Additional APA Considerations

• In-text citation for multiple authors: Use et al. after the first author’s last name if there are three or more authors (e.g. Smith et al., 2023).
• No Artist (Rare Case): If a song doesn’t list a specific artist, use the song title as the first element in the citation and move the year after the title.
• Indirect Quotations: When paraphrasing or referring to an idea from a song, still use in-text citation.
• Multiple Songs from the Same Artist: When citing multiple songs from the same artist, arrange the songs in the reference list chronologically by publication year.

Citing Songs using Chicago Style (17th Edition)

The Chicago Manual of Style has two main citation systems: notes and bibliography, and author-date. We will focus on the Notes-Bibliography style which is common for the humanities. Here’s how to cite songs in Chicago style:

Basic In-Text Citation (Footnote or Endnote)

In the notes and bibliography style, citations appear in footnotes or endnotes and include full source information. The first time a source is cited, a full footnote/endnote is created. Subsequent citations are shortened. A bibliography entry is created and goes at the end of the paper.

Example 1 (First Note):

1. Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” on A Night at the Opera, EMI, 1975, Vinyl Record.

Example 2 (Shortened Note):

2. Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Bibliography Entry

The full entry in the bibliography has a slightly different format:

Format:

Artist Last Name, First Name. “Song Title.” On Album Title. Label, Year, Medium.

Example:

Queen. “Bohemian Rhapsody.” On A Night at the Opera. EMI, 1975, Vinyl Record.

Variations:

• Multiple Artists: List names in the order they appear, with ‘and’ before the last name. (e.g. Smith, John, and Jane Doe)
• Streaming Service/Digital Download: If from streaming services or digital download include the label, the source, and if available the URL/DOI (e.g. Smith, John. “Song Title.” On *Album Title.* Label. Digital Download, https://websitelink/example).
• If there’s an additional author e.g., composer and performer are different use format: Composer Last Name, First Name. “Song Title.” On *Album Title*, performed by Performer First Name Last Name, Label, Year, Medium.

Example of Streaming Service Citation:

Lizzo. “Good as Hell.” On Cuz I Love You. Atlantic, 2019. Spotify, https://spotify.com/album/50r5jHj86GvD1zJtE1n5vI.

Additional Chicago Considerations

• No Artist: Start with the song title, then put the album title, label, and year.
• Indirect quotations: When paraphrasing or referring to an idea from a song, it still requires a citation (in footnote/endnote).
• Multiple Songs from the Same Artist: Arrange them alphabetically by song title in the bibliography.

Citing Songs using Harvard Style

Harvard style is often considered an author-date style similar to APA; however, there are subtle differences. It’s crucial to refer to the guidelines provided by your institution or publication as variations exist. Here’s how to cite songs using a common Harvard style approach:

Basic In-Text Citation (Parenthetical)

Similar to APA, Harvard in-text citations include the artist’s last name(s) and the year of album release within parentheses. If you’ve mentioned the artist’s name in the sentence, only include the year in parentheses.

Example 1 (Artist’s name in the sentence):

Queen (1975) displayed a complex mix of rock and operatic styles in “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Example 2 (Artist’s name not in the sentence):

The intricate structure of the song was unusual for mainstream pop (Queen, 1975).

Reference List Entry

The full citation in the Reference list follows this format:

Format:

Artist(s), Year. ‘Song Title’. On Album Title. Label, Medium. [if online add Available at: URL or DOI] [Accessed: date].

Example:

Queen, 1975. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. On A Night at the Opera. EMI, Vinyl Record.

Variations:

• Multiple Artists: List them as they appear on the recording, with an ampersand (&) before the last artist. (e.g. Smith, J & Doe, J).
• Streaming Service/Digital Download: Include the label, medium (e.g., Streaming Service) and the URL. Add [Accessed: date] at the end.
• Different Composer and Performer: Composer Last Name, Initial., Year. ‘Song title’. On Album title, performed by Performer First Initial Last Name, Label, source if necessary, Available at: URL/DOI (if available) [Accessed: Date]

Example of Streaming Service Citation:

Lizzo, 2019. ‘Good as Hell’. On Cuz I Love You. Atlantic, Spotify. Available at: https://spotify.com/album/50r5jHj86GvD1zJtE1n5vI [Accessed: 2024-01-26].

Additional Harvard Considerations

• In-text citation for multiple authors: When using three or more authors include the first author’s surname followed by ‘et al.’ (e.g. Smith et al., 2023).
• No Artist: Begin the reference with the song title then continue with the year, album title, label and medium, Available at: URL/DOI (if necessary), [Accessed date].
• Indirect quotations: Still use the in-text citation when referring to an idea/paraphrasing.
• Multiple Songs from the Same Artist: When citing multiple songs from the same artist, arrange the entries chronologically by publication year in the reference list.

Practical Tips for Citing Songs

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when citing songs:

• Double-Check Information: Ensure the accuracy of all the information in your citation, including artist names, titles, dates, labels, and URLs.
• Consult the Style Guide: Always refer to the latest edition of the relevant style guide (MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, etc.) for the most up-to-date and precise formatting guidelines.
• Be Consistent: Maintain consistency in your citation style throughout your work. Don’t mix different styles.
• Use Citation Tools with Caution: Citation generators can be helpful, but always double-check their outputs, as they can sometimes have errors.
• Include Relevant Details: Include the details that are most helpful for your readers to locate the source, like URLs for online music.
• When citing a music video treat it as if you are citing a video using the correct format for your chosen style.

Conclusion

Citing songs correctly is essential for avoiding plagiarism, giving credit where it’s due, and maintaining the credibility of your work. While it might seem complex at first, mastering the basics of citation for your chosen style will become second nature over time. Remember to be diligent, consult the specific style guide, and always double-check your work. By doing so, you not only uphold ethical standards, but also enrich your writing and demonstrate your understanding of music’s significance.