Music Citation Guide (Chicago Style)

As you scroll, you'll find footnote and bibliography entry templates and examples of citations for real sources for the following types of videos:

• Streaming video: Feature-length videos available through subscription platforms (Met Opera on Demand, Netflix, etc.)
• Streaming video: YouTube
• Physical video: DVD

• Formatting citations for recordings can involve making a lot of decisions - is the director, the conductor, or the performer(s) more important to your argument? You can choose to list whichever person (performer, composer, conductor, performing ensemble, etc.) that's the most relevant to your argument as the "author" of the recording.
   
• Sometimes it’s not clear who the “publisher” or distributor of a film is.
   
• Always include the format (streaming video, DVD, VHS etc.) of the recording you're citing in your footnotes and bibliography entries.
   
• Unlike citations for print items like books and scores, recordings may not include information about the city of publication; if you don't find one, you can leave this out.
   
• Include as much information as you can to be sure your reader can identify the item you’re citing, and be consistent.
   

• If you have questions or need help, email Jessica Abbazio, Music Librarian, at jabbazio@umn.edu!

Tips for citing YouTube videos:

• It can be unclear who created content that’s been posted on YouTube, so the key is to give your reader as much detail as you can about the item itself so they can locate the video.

• If a video creator's name is not apparent, begin your citation with the title of the video.

• The details of your citation may vary depending on the type of source, and the same pieces of information might not be available for every type of video. Ask for help if you need it!

Footnote template:

1. Video Creator First Name Last Name if Available, “Title,” Contributors' Names if Available, posted Date, YouTube, Video Duration, https://youtu.be/XXXXXXXXXX.
 

Example of a real footnote:

1. “Little Wing (Live),” performed by Jimi Hendrix, posted April 14, 2017, YouTube, 3:52, https://youtu.be/0YDBdoWK2qU.

7. Green Day, “iHeartRadio Album Release Party w/ Green Day,” streamed live on February 7, 2020, YouTube, 1:30:06, https://youtu.be/hhY-7wtIICY.

Bibliography entry template:

Example of a real bibliography entry:

Note:

• If it would help your reader to locate the time stamp of the content you are citing, include that information after "streaming video" (e.g., 1. Ravi Shankar, Between Two Worlds, dir. Mark Kidel (Opus Arte, 1996), streaming video, 1:05-1:10, Classical Music in Video.)

Footnote template:

1. Artist/Director First Name Last Name/Ensemble Name, Title of Video, Names of Additional Personnel if Applicable (Production Company Name, Year of Publication if Applicable), Original Air Date if Applicable, streaming video, Name of Database/Media Type.
 

Example of a real footnote:

1. Ravi Shankar, Between Two Worlds, dir. Mark Kidel (Opus Arte, 1996), streaming video, Classical Music in Video.

Bibliography entry template:

Example of a real bibliography entry:

Notes:

• For sources that include many performers, you can replace multiple names with "et al." - this means “and others.” Using "et al." to replace multiple names is a way to make sure the list doesn’t get too long and make your citation incomprehensible!

Footnote template:

2. Composer/Director/Main Type of Contributor First Name Last Name, Title, Other Contributors’ First Names Last Names (Name of Publisher/Production Company, Year of Publication), Media Type, Duration.
 

Example of a real footnote:

2. Giacomo Puccini, Madama Butterfly, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, performed by Mirella Freni, Plácido Domingo, Christa Ludwig, Robert Kerns, Michel Sénéchal, Giorgio Stendoro, Marius Rintzler, Elke Schary, et al. (Deutsche Grammophon, 2005), DVD, 145 min.

Bibliography entry template:

Example of a real bibliography entry: