How to Cite a Song in MLA
Published August 10, 2012. Updated June 21, 2022.
Citing a Song / Musical Recording
Musical Recording – Any track or album from a compact disc, MP3 recording, MIDI, cassette, or vinyl recording.
MLA Album Citation Structure:
Group Name or Performer’s Last Name, First Name. Title of the Album. Edition if applicable, Publisher, Year of publication.
MLA Album Citation Examples:
BTS. Map of the Soul: 7. Bighit Entertainment, 2020.
King, Carole. Tapestry. Remastered ed., Sony Legacy, 1999.
MLA Online Song Citation Structure:
Group Name or Performer’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Song.” Title of the Album, edition if applicable, Publisher, Year of publication. URL or App Name app.
MLA Online Song Citation Examples:
BTS. “Inner Child.” Map of the Soul: 7, Bighit Entertainment, 2020. Spotify app.
Grannis, Kina. “When Will I Learn.” In the Waiting, KG Records, 2018, soundcloud.com/kina-grannis/when-will-i-learn?in=kina-grannis/sets/in-the-waiting.
MLA Song Citation Structure (for CD/MP3/MIDI/Cassette/Vinyl):
Last, First M. “Track Name.” Album Name, written/performed/conducted by First Name Last Name, album’s ed. (if applicable), Publisher, year of publication, track number. CD/MP3/MIDI/Cassette/Vinyl.
Note: There will not always be a separate writer, conductor, orchestra, or performer. If citing the entire album, do not fill out the track name.
MLA Song Citation Example:
Beethoven, Ludwig van. “Allegro Con Brio.” Piano Concertos Complete, performance by Friederich Gulda and Wiener Philharmoniker, conducted by Horst Stein, Decca Music Group, 1970, track 2. CD.
MLA Song In-text Citation Structure:
(Group Name or Performer’s Last Name)
MLA Song In-text Citation Example:
(BTS)
(King)
(Beethoven)
Other music citation examples:
Updated June 19, 2021.