This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new windowIn the MLA Citation Style Guide (Version 8) music can be cited multiple ways. They way that you cite a musical source will depend on how you accessed the source, and what elements you wish to emphasize about it. If information (for example, the record label) is unavailable from your source, do not list that information.
For example, if you want to cite a song by the artist Solange that you listened to on Spotify, you would do so as follows:
Solange. “Cranes in the Sky.” A Seat at the Table, Columbia Records, 2016, Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/48EjSdYh8wz2gBxxqzrsLe.
Notice that you only need to use the name under which Solange released the album (Solange), not her full name (Solange Knowles). You only need to include the publication information that is easily identifiable from the Spotify record.
Most research projects will require you to utilize both primary and secondary sources to support your argument. But what does that mean in terms of music research?
Primary Sources in Music:
Primary sources are materials created and/or performed around the time or area you are researching. These materials can include:
Secondary Sources in Music:
Secondary sources are materials that provide analysis, explanation, opinon, or restatement of primary sources. Secondary sources can include analysis on one or many primary sources. These materials can include:
