APA Harmony: Citing Songs Like a Pro!

This week, music and academic integrity collide! Mastering how to cite a song in APA style is crucial for students and researchers. Let's strike the right chord with this essential skill.

How to Cite a Song in APA in Your Reference List

The reference list is where you provide the full details of your source. For a song, this looks a bit different than citing a journal article or book. Here's the general format:

Singer, A. A. (Year). Title of song. Title of album. Record Label.

Let's break that down:

  • Singer, A. A.: This is the performing artist(s). Use their last name, followed by initials. If it's a group, list the group name.
  • (Year): The year the song was copyrighted or released (whichever is more readily available).
  • Title of song: Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle (if any), and any proper nouns.
  • Title of album: The album the song appears on. Italicize the entire album title.
  • Record Label: The name of the record label that released the album.

Example:

Swift, T. (2022). Anti-Hero. Midnights. Republic Records.

If you accessed the song online (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music):

Add the platform and URL after the record label.

Swift, T. (2022). Anti-Hero. Midnights. Republic Records. Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/track/0V3wPSX9ygBnmmqZqG5Z9D

How to Cite a Song in APA Within Your Text (In-Text Citations)

In-text citations are brief references within the body of your paper that point readers to the full reference in your reference list. For songs, use the artist's last name or group name and the year of release.

  • Example (Paraphrasing): Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" explores themes of self-doubt and anxiety (Swift, 2022).
  • Example (Direct Quote): As Taylor Swift (2022) sings, "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me" ("Anti-Hero"). Note: Including a timestamp for a song quote is generally unnecessary unless crucial for context.

How to Cite a Song in APA from a Soundtrack

If the song is part of a movie soundtrack, the format is similar, but you'll include the information related to the soundtrack album.

Artist, A. A. (Year). Title of song. On Title of soundtrack. Record Label.

Example:

Simon & Garfunkel. (1968). Mrs. Robinson. On The Graduate. Columbia Records.

How to Cite a Song in APA: What if there are Multiple Artists?

If a song features multiple artists, list all artists in the order they appear on the recording. Separate the first six authors by commas, using an ampersand (&) before the final author. If there are seven or more authors, list the first six followed by "et al."

Example:

Drake, J., Future, & Migos. (2017). Walk It Talk It. Culture II. Quality Control Music/Motown/Capitol.

How to Cite a Song in APA: Who is the Songwriter vs. the Performer?

Generally, you cite the performing artist in your reference. However, if you are specifically discussing the songwriter's contribution or analysis of the songwriting, you might cite the songwriter. This is less common. If the songwriter is different from the performer, indicate their role in parentheses after their name.

Example:

Mann, B. (Songwriter), & Spector, P. (Producer). (1963). Be My Baby [Recorded by The Ronettes]. Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica. Philles Records.

How to Cite a Song in APA: Covers and Remakes

When citing a cover or remake, cite the version you are referencing. If discussing the original, cite the original artist and year.

Example:

Cash, J. (2002). Hurt. American IV: The Man Comes Around. American/Lost Highway Records. (Cover of Nine Inch Nails song)

How to Cite a Song in APA: Addressing Common Questions

Q: Do I need to include the track number?

A: No, you generally don't need to include the track number.

Q: What if the song is self-released?

A: If the song is self-released, you can indicate "Self-released" in place of the record label.

Q: How do I cite a song from YouTube?

A: If citing a song from YouTube, follow the format for online sources, including the uploader (if different from the artist), year uploaded, title of the video (song), and the URL.

Artist, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of song [Video]. YouTube. URL

Example:

Adele. (2015, October 22). Hello [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A

Mastering How to Cite a Song in APA: Key Takeaways

Citing songs in APA style doesn't have to be a complicated composition. By following these guidelines, you can ensure accuracy and give proper credit to the artists who inspire your work. Remember to be consistent and adapt these examples to fit the specific details of your source. Now go forth and cite those tunes!

Keywords: How to cite a song in APA, APA citation, music citation, reference list, in-text citation, APA style, citing music sources, citing songs, music research, academic writing, APA format, songwriting, album citation.

Summary: This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to cite a song in APA style, covering various scenarios like albums, online sources, soundtracks, multiple artists, songwriters, covers, and common questions. The guide includes examples for reference lists and in-text citations.

Q&A: How do I cite a song on Spotify? Use the artist, year, song title, album title, record label, platform (Spotify), and URL. How do I cite a song within the text of my paper? Use the artist's last name and the year of release (e.g., Swift, 2022).