How do I cite a song or music in APA?

To cite a song or music in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the APA format for a song or music citation?

The APA format for a song or music is: Artist, A. A. (Year). Title of song [Song]. On Album title. Record Label.

What does the in-text citation look like for a song or music in APA?

In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Artist, Year)

How to Cite a Song or Music in APA (7th edition)

Learn how to cite a song or music recording in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

APA Reference List Format

Here is the standard APA format for citing a song or music in your reference list:

Artist, A. A. (Year). Title of song [Song]. On Album title. Record Label.

APA Example for a Song or Music

A complete APA reference for a song or music, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Nakamura, R. (2020). Marginalia [Album]. In Quiet Library. Blue Room Records.

Matching in-text citation: (Nakamura, 2020)

APA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Artist, Year)

Narrative

Artist (Year) sings...

Key APA Formatting Rules

Italicize the album title, not the song title.
Put the song title in quotation marks.
Include the record label as publisher.
Use [Song] as the description bracket.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your song or music.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: apa.csl

Editorial sources

APA Style — references →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a song or music in APA?: To cite a song or music in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the APA format for a song or music citation?: The APA format for a song or music is: Artist, A. A. (Year). Title of song [Song]. On Album title. Record Label.
What does the in-text citation look like for a song or music in APA?: In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Artist, Year)