Songs can be cited as either recorded or written music. The MLA, APA, and Chicago style guides each have specific rules for citation.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Section 1: Mention a Registration in MLA
Step 1. Write the name of the performer
The performer can be a single artist or a group. If you are referring to a single artist, write the name in the format surname, first name. End with a period.
Crosby, Bing
Step 2. Write the song title
Write the title in quotes and end with a period.
Crosby, Bing. "White Christmas."
Step 3. If necessary, write the name of the composer
If composer and performer are the same person, this step can be skipped. Otherwise, you should add the composer's name in the format first name, last name and end with a period. Enter the name with the word "From".
Crosby, Bing. "White Christmas." By Irving Berlin
Step 4. Add album title
Find out which album the song is from and quote the name in italics. End with another point.
Crosby, Bing. "White Christmas." By Irving Berlin. Merry Christmas
Step 5. Write the record company and the year of release
The year should be the year the song was released Separate record company and release year with a comma and ends with a period.
Crosby, Bing. "White Christmas." By Irving Berlin. Merry Christmas. Decca, 1942
Step 6. Conclude with the album format
Use "LP" to refer to vinyl. You can use "CD" and "Audiocassette" to refer to the respective media.
Crosby, Bing. "White Christmas." By Irving Berlin. Merry Christmas. Decca, 1942. LP
Method 2 of 6: Section 2: Quoting Written Music in MLA
Step 1. Start with the name of the composer
The composer is the forgiving who actually wrote the song, regardless of the performer. Write the name in the format surname, first name and ends with a period.
Berlin, Irving
Step 2. Write the song title
Put the title in quotes and end with a period.
Berlin, Irving. "White Christmas."
Step 3. Add the name of the collection the score comes from
Write this title in italics and end with a period.
Berlin, Irving. "White Christmas." White Christmas
Step 4. Then write the place of publication, the name of the publisher and the year of publication
The place should include city and state. After it put a colon and then write the name of the publisher. After the publisher, put a comma and write the year the song was released.
Berlin, Irving. "White Christmas." White Christmas. New York, NY: Irving Berlin Music Corp, 1940
Step 5. Write the page number
If the song spans multiple pages, separate them with a hyphen.
Berlin, Irving. "White Christmas." White Christmas. New York, NY: Irving Berlin Music Corp, 1940. 3-4
Step 6. Finish with the medium
For written music, the medium can be Print or Web.
Berlin, Irving. "White Christmas." White Christmas. New York, NY: Irving Berlin Music Corp, 1940. 3-4. Printed
Method 3 of 6: Section 3: Mention an APA Registration
Step 1. Write the name of the composer or writer
Write the composer's full surname, followed by the initial of the name.
Berlin, I
Step 2. Add the copyright year
The copyright year is the year the composer wrote and released the song for the first time. The year goes in parentheses and is followed by a period.
Berlin, I. (1940)
Step 3. Write the title of the song and the name of the singer
Capitalize only the first letter of the first word and any proper names. The artist's name should be placed in square brackets and should include only the initial of the first name and the full surname. The words "Performed by" should introduce the artist's name and should end with a period.
Berlin, I. (1940). White Christmas [Performed by B. Crosby]
Step 4. Write the title of the album and the recording medium
The album should be introduced with the word "Su" and written in italics. Capitalize only the first word and any proper names. The medium can be LP, Audio cassette, CD or MP3 file and should be placed in square brackets. End with a period.
Berlin, I. (1940). White Christmas [Performed by B. Crosby]. On Merry Christmas [LP]
Step 5. Add the place of publication and the record company
The place should include city and state and be followed by a colon. Then write the name of the record company.
Berlin, I. (1940). White Christmas [Performed by B. Crosby]. On Merry Christmas [LP]. New York, NY: Decca
Step 6. End with the registration date, if available
The date should be written in parentheses.
Berlin, I. (1940). White Christmas [Performed by B. Crosby]. On Merry Christmas [LP]. New York, NY: Decca. (1942)
Method 4 of 6: Section 4: Quoting Written Music in APA
Step 1. Write the name of the composer or writer
Write the composer's full surname, followed by the initial of the first name and the middle name.
Berlin, I
Step 2. Write the year of publication of the original score
The year should be in parentheses and followed by a period.
Berlin, I. (1940)
Step 3. Write the song title
The title should be in italics and followed by a period. Capitalize the first letter of the first word. All other words should be lowercase, unless proper names are present.
Berlin, I. (1940). White Christmas
Step 4. Finish with the place of publication and the name of the publisher
The place should include city and state and be followed by a colon. Write the name of the publisher and end with a period.
Berlin, I. (1940). White Christmas. New York, NY: 1940
Method 5 of 6: Section 5: Cite a Chicago Style Recording
Step 1. Write the name of the composer
The name should be written in the format surname, full name. End with a period.
Berlin, Irving
Step 2. Write the song title
Italicize the title and capitalize the first letter of each word. End with a period.
Berlin, Irving. White Christmas
Step 3. Add the name of the performer
The performer can be a group or an orchestra, but it could also be a single artist. If the performer is a single artist, write the name in the format name, surname.
Berlin, Irving. White Christmas. Bing Crosby
Step 4. Write the copyright year of the song and the record company
Enter the year with the copyright symbol. Introduce the record company with the word "from."
Berlin, Irving. White Christmas. Bing Crosby. © 1940 by Decca
Step 5. Enter the registration number
If you don't know him, you can skip this step.
Step 6. Finish with the registration medium
The medium can be RPM, LP, Audio cassette, CD, or MP3. End with a period.
Berlin, Irving. White Christmas. Bing Crosby. © 1940 by Decca. LP
Method 6 of 6: Section 6: Quoting Music Written in the Chicago Style
Step 1. Write the name of the composer
Use the full name instead of initials and write it in the format surname, first name. End with a period.
Berlin, Irving
Step 2. Write the song title
The title of the song should be italicized and followed by a period.
Berlin, Irving. White Christmas
Step 3. End with the city of publication, the name of the publisher and the year the song was released
The city of publication should be followed by the state only if the city is not well known. Then put a colon and write the name of the publisher. Add a comma followed by the year of publication.
