To cite a song in APA style, you generally need to include information about the recording artist, the year of release, the song title, and the album it belongs to. This format ensures proper attribution for the audio source.
Citing a Song in APA Style
When referencing a song, particularly one from an album, the APA format typically follows a consistent structure for your reference list.
General Format for Reference List Entry
The core components for citing a song from an album are:
| Element | Description | Example Component |
|---|---|---|
| Artist | Last Name, First Initial. of the recording artist. | Swift, T. |
| Release Year | (Year of release). | (2022). |
| Song Title | Title of song [Song]. (Italicize the title.) | *You're On Your Own, Kid* [Song]. |
| Album Title | On Title of Album [Album]. (Italicize the album title.) | On *Midnights* [Album]. |
| Record Label (Optional but Recommended) | Record Label. (If available and relevant, append at the end) | . Republic. |
Example Reference List Entry:
Following the general format, here’s how you would cite a specific song like "You're On Your Own, Kid" by Taylor Swift from the album "Midnights":
Swift, T. (2022). You're On Your Own, Kid [Song]. On Midnights [Album]. Republic.
In-Text Citation for a Song
When you refer to a song in your paper, you'll use an in-text citation that typically includes the artist's last name and the year of release.
- Parenthetical Citation: (Artist Last Name, Year)
- Example: (Swift, 2022)
- Narrative Citation: Artist Last Name (Year)
- Example: Swift (2022)
Practical Insights:
- Multiple Artists: If a song has multiple primary artists, list them all in the reference list entry, separated by commas, with an ampersand (&) before the last artist.
- Remastered or Re-recorded Songs: If you are citing a remastered or re-recorded version, include the original release year (if known) and the re-release year. For example: Artist, A. A. (Year). Song title [Song]. On Album Title [Album] (Original work published Year). Record Label.
- Songs Not on an Album: If a song was released as a single and not part of an album, you would omit the "On Album Title [Album]" part. However, this is less common for general song citation as songs are typically part of a larger collection. The format provided by APA generally emphasizes the album context for songs.
- Streaming Services: While you might access the song via a streaming service, the core citation focuses on the published work (artist, year, song, album) rather than the specific platform unless it's a unique version or platform-exclusive content.
For more comprehensive guidelines on citing various audio-visual media, consult the official APA Style Guide.
