How to cite a song MLA? In general, the format for citing a song in MLA depends on the medium in which you listened to it.
First of all, to cite a song accessed via an online streaming service, list the group or performer as the author, the song title in quotation marks, the name of the streaming website in italics, as well as the URL link where the song can be found. Just omit “the” from a band name. for example, replace “the Westlife” with “Westlife”.
In addition, if relevant, take advantage of a timestamp to indicate a specific part of the song in the in-text citation.
The following is an example of how to cite a song in MLA format.
Works Cited entry:
Dylan, Bob. “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Spotify. open.spotify.com/track/18GiV1BaXzPVYpp9rmOg0E.
In-text citation:
(Dylan 1:14)
How to MLA Cite a Song in Physical Formats?
In order to cite a song you accessed in a physical format like a CD/DVD, including details about the album/EP/single it appears on, you need to use this format:
The title, distributor, year, and optionally the format (e.g. “CD”)
That format also applies to the music you downloaded and accessed on a media player such as iTunes.
How to Cite Song Lyrics MLA?
Quoting lyrics from a song in a similar format to poetry. Just separate lines with a slash and format 4 or more lines quoted at once as a block quote.
If you are quoting those lyrics from a transcript included alongside the song, you should clarify this at the end of the Works Cited entry.
Optional Details to Cite a Song in MLA Format
MLA’s citation style is flexible. Some details are not mandatory in a song citation but can be embed when necessary. If your discussion focuses on the work of a particular musician, you can list them in the author position instead of the main artist, alongside a description of their role. Yet, the main artist should still be listed later in the contributor slot.
Especially, for classical music, it may be more relevant to cite the composer rather than the performer in the author position. Then, you can list the particular performer(s) or conductor after the title. If the particular performance is irrelevant, you might omit this info entirely.
How to Cite an Online Audio Recording MLA of a Song?
To cite an audio recording of a song is very similar to the process of citing a movie. If you have only cited text before, it is also a piece of cake for you to cite a sound. Let’s get started!
In the first place, remember or write down the following parameters of the target song.
- Singer name
- Songwriter name
- Song title including subtitle if their is one
- Album title and subtitle
- Album’s edition
- Track number
- Publisher
- Year of publication
- Website or database where the song was discovered
- URL
- The name of any other contributors
Then, make use of the below structure to cite an audio recording in MLA 9.
Singer’s Last Name, Singer’s First Name. “Title of the Song.” Title of the Album, album’s ed., Publisher, Year of publication, track number. Website or Database Name, URL (remove http:// or https://).
How to Cite Music Lyrics MLA Found Online?
Similarly, to cite written song lyrics, you need to take a note of the related information listed above. Then, use this structure to cite written song lyrics in MLA 9.
Songwriter’s Last Name, First Name. Lyrics to “Title of the Song.” Names of other contributors, Album’s Publisher, Year of publication. Name of Website, URL.
Videos/Audio/Photos Management Tools Recommended
These applications are completely compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7.
MiniTool MovieMaker
An easy-to-use video editing software without watermarks and limits. The embedded templates enable you to quickly make personal slideshows and share them with your friends!
MiniTool MovieMakerClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
MiniTool Video Converter
Quickly convert videos and audio from one file format to another to apply to more devices. It supports 1000+ popular output formats and batch conversion. Besides, it can also record PC screens without any watermark and download YouTube videos.
MiniTool Video ConverterClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Also Read
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Helen Graduated from university in 2014 and started working as a tech editor in the same year. Her articles focus on video creation, editing, and conversion. She also has a good knowledge of disk management and data backup & recovery. Through an in-depth exploration of computer technology, Helen has successfully helped thousands of users solve their annoying problems.