How to Cite a Song

MLA Style

• 1

  Write the name of the performing artist followed by a period.

• 2

  Write the name of the song in quotation marks.

• 3

  Write the title of the album in italics, followed by a period.

• 4

  Write the publisher's name followed by a comma.

• 5

  Write the year of the copyright, then a period.

• 6

  Write the type of file (CD, MP3, etc.).

APA Style

• 7

  Write the name of the songwriter followed by a period.

• 8

  Write the copyright year in parentheses followed by a period.

• 9

  Write the song title followed by a period.

• 10

  If the performer is different from the songwriter, write the song's artist in brackets followed by a period.

• 11

  In italics, write the album title by writing, "On", then the album title followed by a period.

• 12

  In brackets, write the type of file followed by a period.

• 13

  Write where the song was recorded, a colon, the name of the publisher and then a period.

• 14

  In parentheses, write the recording date if it is given and if it is different from the copyright year.