How to Cite a Music Recording in APA 7th Edition

This guide explains how to format a music recording citation in APA 7th Edition. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a music recording in APA 7th Edition:

Template

Artist, A. A. (Year). *Title of song* [Song]. On *Title of album*. Label.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Lamar, 2022)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Lamar, K. (2022). N95 [Song]. On Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. pgLang; Top Dawg Entertainment.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the artist
List the recording artist's last name, comma, and initials. For bands or groups, use the group name as-is. Use an ampersand (&) before the last artist if there are multiple.
2
Add the year
Place the copyright year or release year in parentheses, followed by a period.
3
Write the song title
Italicize the song title using sentence case. Add [Song] in square brackets immediately after (not italicized). End with a period.
4
Add the album and label
Write On followed by the italicized album title in sentence case. End with a period. Then list the record label, followed by a period.
5
Include a URL if applicable
If you accessed the song from an online source and a specific URL aids retrieval, include it at the end.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to include [Song] or [Album] in brackets after the title.
Omitting the album name when citing a single song; include it with On before the italicized album title.
Not italicizing the album title when it appears in the reference.
Listing the songwriter instead of the recording artist, unless the songwriter is the person whose version you used.
Including track numbers, which are not required in APA format.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an entire album rather than a single song?

For an album, the format is: Artist, A. A. (Year). Title of album [Album]. Label. Omit the On element since you are citing the album itself.

How do I cite a song from a streaming service like Spotify?

Use the same standard format. You generally do not need to include the streaming platform unless it is the only place the song is available. Include a URL only if it directly aids retrieval.

What if the songwriter and the recording artist are different people?

Cite the version you listened to. The recording artist goes in the author position. If the songwriter is relevant to your discussion, mention them in the text of your paper.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your music recording:

Artist/Composer
Title
Album
Label
Year
Track Number

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the artist

List the recording artist's last name, comma, and initials. For bands or groups, use the group name as-is. Use an ampersand (&) before the last artist if there are multiple.

Add the year

Place the copyright year or release year in parentheses, followed by a period.

Write the song title

Italicize the song title using sentence case. Add [Song] in square brackets immediately after (not italicized). End with a period.

Add the album and label

Write On followed by the italicized album title in sentence case. End with a period. Then list the record label, followed by a period.

Include a URL if applicable

If you accessed the song from an online source and a specific URL aids retrieval, include it at the end.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to include [Song] or [Album] in brackets after the title.

Omitting the album name when citing a single song; include it with On before the italicized album title.

Not italicizing the album title when it appears in the reference.

Listing the songwriter instead of the recording artist, unless the songwriter is the person whose version you used.

Including track numbers, which are not required in APA format.