How to Cite a Song in MLA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 10/24/2024

Citing a song in MLA format requires attention to detail and the inclusion of specific citation elements. These elements vary depending on whether the song is from an album, an online source, or a physical medium such as a CD or vinyl.

This article explains the different MLA citation formats for songs and albums, highlighting the required elements for each type of source.

CITING A MUSICAL ALBUM 

When citing a full musical album in MLA, the citation must include the group or performer’s name, the album title in italics, the edition (if applicable), the publisher, and the year of publication. This format applies to albums from any medium, such as CDs, MP3 files, vinyl records, or cassettes.

MUSICAL ALBUM CITATION ELEMENTS

• Group Name or Performer’s Name: This refers to the name of the artist, band, or musical group responsible for creating the album. In an MLA citation, this element should appear at the beginning of the entry and should be formatted with the artist’s surname listed first, followed by their first name (if applicable). When citing a group or band, the name should be written in its entirety, in the original order, without inverting the names. If the album was created by multiple artists (e.g., a collaboration), the names of the primary artists should be listed in the same order as they appear on the album. For classical works, if the composer is more relevant than the performer, their name may be used in this field.
• Title of the Album: The album title is the official name given to the work and should be presented in italics in MLA format. This helps to differentiate it from other parts of the citation, such as the artist’s name or the song titles. The title should be written in title case, meaning the first letter of each major word is capitalized, except for articles (e.g., “the,” “a”), conjunctions (e.g., “and,” “but”), and prepositions (e.g., “in,” “on,” “of”) unless they are the first or last word of the title. Any subtitles, punctuation, or special formatting within the album’s official title should be included exactly as it appears on the source. This ensures that the title accurately reflects the original work.
• Edition (if applicable): The edition of the album should be noted if it is a special version, such as a deluxe edition, remastered edition, or anniversary edition. This element provides additional context about the specific version being cited, which may differ from the original in significant ways, such as additional tracks, improved sound quality, or different packaging. If the edition is explicitly stated on the album (e.g., “Deluxe Edition” or “Remastered Version”), this information must be included after the album title in the citation. If no special edition is indicated, this element can be omitted.
• Publisher: The publisher refers to the record label or company that produced and released the album. In MLA format, the publisher’s name should be included after the album title (and edition, if applicable). This helps identify the organization responsible for distributing and promoting the music. The publisher’s name should be written in full and appear as it is officially listed. Record labels may vary from major entities like Sony Music, Universal Music Group, or Warner Music, to smaller independent labels. If the album was self-published by the artist, this should be noted as well (e.g., “Self-released” or the name of the artist’s private label). Including the correct publisher helps provide full attribution to the company that holds the legal rights to the music.
• Year of Publication: The year of publication is the year when the album was officially released to the public. It is an important element in the citation because albums can be reissued in different formats or versions over time. If you are citing a remastered edition or special release, the year of that particular edition should be used, not the original release year.

MUSICAL ALBUM CITATION EXAMPLE

Citation	Adele. 25. XL Recordings, 2015.
Structure	Performer’s Name. Title of the Album. Publisher, Year of publication.

In this citation, the performer is Adele, and the album title 25 is italicized. The publisher is XL Recordings, and the album was released in 2015.

CITING A SONG FROM AN ONLINE SOURCE 

When citing a song accessed online, MLA requires the inclusion of the performer’s or group’s name, the title of the song in quotation marks, the album title in italics (if applicable), the publisher, the year of publication, and the app or URL where the song is accessed.

ONLINE SONG CITATION ELEMENTS

• Group Name or Performer’s Name: This element refers to the artist or group performing the song. If the artist is a solo performer, their surname should be listed first, followed by their first name (e.g., “Smith, Sam”). For groups or bands, the full group name should be included without inversion. This element allows the citation to properly attribute the performance to the responsible artist or band. For collaborations involving multiple artists, the primary artist or artists should be listed in the same order they appear on the source. If there are more than two performers, MLA guidelines recommend using the first performer followed by “et al.” for brevity.
• Title of the Song: The title of the song refers to the specific track being cited. In MLA format, the song title is placed in quotation marks to distinguish it as a part of a larger work (such as an album). The title should be written in title case, where the first letter of each major word is capitalized, except for articles, prepositions, and conjunctions unless they appear at the beginning or end of the title. Any subtitles, special characters, or formatting found in the original song title should also be preserved in the citation.
• Title of the Album: The album title refers to the full name of the album in which the song appears. In MLA format, the album title is italicized to indicate that it is a larger work containing the song. This distinction helps readers differentiate between individual songs (placed in quotation marks) and albums (italicized). If the song is a standalone track not associated with any album, this element can be omitted. In cases where the album has a subtitle, both the main title and subtitle should be italicized.
• Edition (if applicable): If the song is from a special edition of the album, such as a deluxe version, remastered edition, or anniversary edition, this information must be included after the album title. Special editions often contain additional tracks, alternative versions, or improvements to the sound quality of the recording. Mentioning the edition helps provide full context for the source being cited, ensuring accuracy in distinguishing between different versions of the same album. If there is no special edition, this element is unnecessary and can be omitted from the citation.
• Publisher: The publisher refers to the record label or music company that produced and released the song or album. In MLA format, the publisher is a key component because it identifies the entity responsible for the distribution and rights to the music. Record labels can range from major entities (such as Universal Music Group) to smaller, independent companies. In some cases, artists may self-publish their music, in which case the artist’s own label or “Self-released” should be noted. The publisher’s name should appear as it does on the album’s official release information, following the album title (and edition, if applicable).
• Year of Publication: The year of publication is the year the song or album was officially released to the public. This element should be included directly after the publisher. For songs that appear on an album, the year of publication will typically be the same as the album’s release year. If a song has been re-released as part of a remastered edition or as a single, the year of that particular version’s release should be used. Including the correct year of publication ensures proper attribution and distinguishes different releases of the same work.
• URL or App Name: If the song is accessed online, the citation must include either the app used to listen to the song or the URL where the song is available. If the song was accessed via a music streaming service like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube, the name of the app should be italicized. If the song is accessed directly through a website (e.g., SoundCloud), the URL should be provided, formatted without the “https://” prefix. This allows the reader to locate the exact version of the song being referenced. When providing URLs, ensure that the link points directly to the song.

ONLINE SONG CITATION EXAMPLE

Citation	Lady Gaga, and Bradley Cooper. “Shallow.” A Star Is Born (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Interscope Records, 2018. Apple Music app.
Structure	Performer’s Name, and Performer’s 2 First Name Surname. “Title of the Song.” Title of the Album, Publisher, Year of publication. App Name app.

In this example, the song “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper is part of the album A Star Is Born (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). The publisher is Interscope Records, and the song was accessed through Apple Music in 2018.

CITING A SONG FROM A PHYSICAL RECORDING

When citing a song from a physical recording such as a CD, MP3, MIDI, cassette, or vinyl, MLA requires the name of the performer, the song title in quotation marks, the album title in italics, the edition (if applicable), the publisher, the year of publication, the track number, and the medium.

CITATION ELEMENTS FOR PHYSICAL RECORDING

• Group Name or Performer’s Name: This element identifies the artist or group responsible for performing the song. For solo performers, the surname is listed first, followed by the first name. In instances where multiple artists collaborate, the primary artist or artists should be listed in the order they appear on the source. If the track is performed by a group or band, the group’s name should be listed instead. 
• Track Name: The track name refers to the specific title of the song or composition being cited. In MLA format, this title is placed in quotation marks to indicate that it is a smaller work within a larger collection (the album). The title should be written in title case, meaning that the first letter of each major word is capitalized, while articles, prepositions, and conjunctions should remain lowercase unless they are the first or last word of the title. Any special characters, punctuation, or formatting from the original track title should also be retained.
• Album Name: The album name refers to the full title of the album that contains the specific track. In MLA format, this title is italicized to distinguish it as a larger work. The album title should be written in title case as well, with all major words capitalized. If the album has a subtitle, it should also be included as part of the full title, italicized accordingly. This helps readers identify the context of the track within the larger body of work.
• Collaborators: This element specifies the name of the person who was directly involved in the performance of the track. It could be the performer, conductor, or songwriter, depending on the context. This detail is particularly relevant in classical music citations, where the conductor or composer may hold more significance than the performer. In other cases, it may simply reiterate the primary artist or group that performed the track. If there are notable collaborators involved in the performance, their names can be included to provide additional context. This information should follow the album title and precede the publisher.
• Edition (if applicable): If the album being cited is a special version—such as a deluxe edition, remastered edition, or anniversary edition—this information should be included after the album name. The edition can denote significant alterations from the original album, including additional tracks, improved audio quality, or new artwork. If there is no special edition, this element can be omitted.
• Publisher: The publisher refers to the record label or company that produced and released the album. In MLA format, the publisher’s name is crucial for identifying the entity responsible for the distribution and rights to the music. The name should appear as it is officially listed on the album cover or release information. This helps provide attribution for the work and allows readers to trace back to the source. Record labels can vary from major companies (such as Sony Music, Universal Music Group) to independent labels. If the album was self-published by the artist, it can be indicated as “Self-released” or by the name of the artist’s own label.
• Year of Publication: The year of publication indicates when the album was officially released to the public. This information is important for proper citation as albums may be re-released or remastered at later dates. In MLA format, the year follows the publisher’s name, allowing readers to quickly identify when the work became available. It is essential to use the correct year, particularly when multiple versions or editions exist.
• Track Number: The track number specifies the position of the song within the album. This information is useful for readers who may want to locate the specific track quickly, especially in collections where track orders are significant. The track number should be included after the year of publication and formatted as “track #” to clearly indicate its meaning.
• Format: The format indicates the medium through which the album or track is available. In MLA format, it is important to specify whether the work is released as a CD, MP3, MIDI, cassette, or vinyl. This detail can help readers understand the format in which the work was published and can be important for retrieval, as availability may vary depending on the format.

PHYSICAL RECORDING CITATION EXAMPLE

Citation	Dua Lipa. “Levitating.” Future Nostalgia, featuring The Blessed Madonna and Elton John, Warner Records, 2020, track 6. CD.
Structure	Performer’s Name. “Track Name.” Album Name, featuring Name of Collaborator(s), Publisher, Year of publication, track number. CD.

In this example, Dua Lipa’s song “Levitating” is part of the album Future Nostalgia. The performance includes contributions from The Blessed Madonna and Elton John. The album was published by Warner Records in 2020, and the specific song is track 6 of the CD format.

Include Featured Artists in the Citation: When a song features other artists, it is important to list their names after the song title, introduced by the term “featuring” or “feat.” as it appears on the source. This properly credits all performers involved in the track. Include featured artists to ensure they receive recognition, and follow the order they appear on the original source. Use Proper Punctuation Between Elements: Punctuation plays a key role in maintaining clarity in MLA citations. Use commas to separate the different elements of a song citation, such as the artist’s name, song title, album title, publisher, and year. Proper punctuation ensures that each part of the citation is easily distinguishable and follows MLA’s structured format. Cite Songs from Soundtracks Like Regular Albums: Songs that appear on soundtracks should be cited similarly to regular albums. This applies to soundtracks from movies, television shows, and video games. Italicize the title of the soundtrack just as you would for an album, and include the publisher and year of release. This approach ensures consistency across citations regardless of the context in which the song appears. For Music Videos, Include the Director’s Name (if Known): When citing a music video, it is important to include the director’s name if available, as this recognizes their creative contribution. After the song title, use “directed by” followed by the director’s name. Also, include “Music Video” after the publisher and year to clarify that it is a video and not just the audio track. Distinguish Between Live Performances and Studio Recordings: When citing a live performance of a song, make sure to indicate that it is a live version. This can be done by adding “live” after the song title. If possible, include details such as the location and date of the performance to give additional context. This helps distinguish between different versions of the song, as live and studio recordings may vary significantly.