Determine the name of the artist or band. Each MLA citation offers a guide for anyone trying to find that research source. Because of this, the band or individual artist's name is usually listed as the first part of a CD citation. If it is an artist's name, give the last name and then the first name, separated by a comma. If a conductor, composer or performer (such as an orchestra) is most closely associated with a recording, list that name first. If you do give a name other than the artist or band, include the appropriate abbreviation "cond.," "comp." or "perf." after the name.
Give the title of the CD. Underline or italicize the title of the disk. (MLA format accepts italics or underlining for titles. Check with your instructor to see which he or she prefers.) One exception to this rule is when a piece of music is identified only by a number, a musical key or a form. For example, you would not underline or italicize Symphony No. 1 in B minor.
Provide the name of the conductor, composer or performer. You may have listed this information as the first piece of your citation. However, if you did not, the information follows the CD's title. Before the name, place the appropriate abbreviation: "Cond.," "Comp." or "Perf."
List the manufacturer of the disk and the year it was produced. This information is usually found on the disk itself or on the literature that comes with the recording. A comma separates the company that produced the CD and the year it was made. If you cannot determine the year of manufacture, use the abbreviation "n.d."
Include proper punctuation. Specific punctuation is associated with each part of the citation. A period goes after each section: the artist, the title, the conductor/composer/performer's name and the date. Place a comma between the manufacturer and the year of production. Also, if you included the abbreviation "cond.," "comp." or "perf." after the first part of your citation, separate the name and abbreviation by a comma.
Incorporate appropriate capitalization. Capitalize all principle words in a title, with the exception of prepositions, articles, the infinitive "to" and coordinating conjunctions. Capitalize the names of the people involved in the recording and the company that produced the CD.