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Cite sound and video in MLA

Learn how to cite sound and video sources in MLA style. Follow correct formats for podcasts, YouTube, music, films and more to reference sources accurately in your writing.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the year and a timestamp to indicate the exact starting point of the quote.

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing Peter FitzSimons presents an excellent program about the Kokoda trail including fitness preparation tips … (03:01-05:03).
Direct quote "The Kokoda trek is an experience that …" (FitzSimons 0:01).

Works cited

  • Give the author and title. Add the reader’s name after title, preceded by ‘Narr.’ (abbreviation of ‘Narrator’).
  • Give the name of the recording label/publisher.
  • The year alone is usually sufficient as a publication date for an audiobook.

CD

Reference format Example
Template Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of work. Narrated by First Name Last Name, audiobook ed., ed., Recording label, day month year. Website Name (if online), URL.
Works cited entry

FitzSimons, Peter. Kokoda. Narrated by Lewis FitzGerald, ABC Audio, 2013. 

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Narrated by Sissy Spacek, audiobook ed., unabridged ed., HarperAudio, 8 July 2014.

Online

If accessed online, give the name of the website.

Reference format Example
Template Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of work. Narrated by First Name Last Name, audiobook ed., ed., Recording label, day month year. Website Name (if online), URL.
Works cited entry

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. Narrated by Claire Danes, Audiobook ed., Sonypistols, 2017. Soundcloud, https://soundcloud.com/audible/the-handmaids-tale/sets.

Literary reading

  • Add the reader’s name after title preceded by ‘Narrator’ or ‘Read’.
  • Give the name of the recording label/publisher.
  • The year alone is usually sufficient as a publication date for an audiobook.
  • If accessed online, give the name of the website.  
Reference format Example
Template Author's Last Name, First Name. “Title of work being read (e.g., poem).” Narrated by First Name Last Name. Tile of whole work, Website Name, day month year, URL.
Works cited entry

Sullivan, Anne O. “The Bees.” Read by Anne-Marie Cusac. Poem of the Day, Poetry Foundation, 27 Aug. 2017, www.poetryfoundation.org/ podcasts/76357/the-bees.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the year and a timestamp to indicate the exact starting point of the quote.

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing Scientists are baffled about the appeal of eclipses to the general public … (Chang 0:01-01:12).
Direct quote "More members of the public are fascinated by eclipses but from a scientist's view …" (Chang 0:01).

Works cited

Podcast on a website:  name is the same as the podcast title

If the podcast title and website name are the same, you don’t need to include the website name. 

Reference format Example
Template Narrator/host name. “Episode Title.” Podcast Title, Season Number, Episode Number, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.
Works cited entry

Gladwell, Malcolm, narrator. “The Lady Vanishes.” Revisionist History, season 1, episode 1, Slate Group, 6 April 2016, revisionisthistory.com/seasons?selected=season-1.

Podcast on a website:  name is the different to the podcast title

If the podcast title and website name are different, include the website name. 

Reference format Example
Template Narrator/host name. “Episode Title.” Podcast Title, Season Number, Episode Number, Publisher, Day Month Year. Website (if different to Podcast Title), URL.
Works cited entry

Chang, Ailsa, host. “Why Scientists Can’t Explain All the Appeal of an Eclipse.” Morning Edition, NPR, 11 Aug. 2017. NPR, www.npr.org/2017/
08/11/542753070/scientists-can-t-explain-all-the-appeal-of-an-eclipse.

Podcast on an app 

Reference format Example
Template Narrator/host name. “Episode Title.” Podcast Title, Season Number, Episode Number, Website (if different from Podcast title), Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.
Works cited entry

Gladwell, Malcolm, narrator. “The Lady Vanishes.” Revisionist History, iTunes app, 16 June 2016.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the year and a timestamp to indicate the exact starting point of the quote.

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing

Guy Sebastian's song touches a father's love for his child and ...

One of Australia’s finest quartets have produced a new album that … (Guitar Trek).
Direct quote "Won't let the big bad world get you no way" (Sebastian 0:59).

Works cited

  • Give the speaker/performer at beginning of the entry.
  • Give the title of the whole work in italics if it is a stand-alone production. If it's part of a larger work, put the performance title in double quotation marks (" ").
  • Give the name and location of venue, date of performance, URL, and form (e.g., CD, LP) as appropriate. 

Single track or song (CD or LP)

Reference format Example
Template Performer/Speaker. “Title of Track.” Title of Whole Work. Label, Day Month Year. Form.
Works cited entry

Sinatra, Frank. “Autumn in New York.” Come Fly with Me. Capitol, 1958. LP.

Single track or song (Online)

Reference format Example
Template Performer/Speaker. “Title of Track.” Title of Whole Work, Label, Day Month Year, URL.
Works cited entry

Beyoncé. “Pray You Catch Me.” Lemonade, Parkwood Entertainment, 2016, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

Single track or song (app)

Reference format Example
Template Performer/Speaker. “Title of Track.” Name of App, Label, Day Month Year.
Works cited entry

Sebastian, Guy. “Big Bad World.” iTunes app, Sony Music Australia, 2012. 

U2. “You’re the Best Thing about Me.” iTunes app, Island Records, 2017.

Whole album (CD)

Reference format Example
Template Performer/Speaker. Title of Whole Work. Label, Day Month Year. Form.
Works cited entry

Perry, Katy. Prism. Capitol, 2013. CD.

Whole album (Online)

Reference format Example
Template Performer/Speaker. Title of Whole Work, Label/Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.
Works cited entry

Trek. Blue Tongue: Australian Guitar Quartets. Naxos, 2020, https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.579060.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ").

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing Martin Andrews presents a reading of Philip Larkin's poems which span …
Direct quote "The poems of Philip Larkin have been loved by many generations because …" (Andrews).

Works cited

  • Give the speaker/performer/director at the beginning of the entry.
  • If it's a stand-alone production, give the title in italics. If it's part of a larger work, a speech or lecture, give the title in quotation marks (" ").
  • Give the name, location of venue and date of performance.

Play performed in a theatre (focus on contributors)

Reference format Example
Template Name, director. Title of Play. By First Name Second Name, Performances by First Name Second Name, Publisher, Day Month Year of performance, Venue, Location.
Works cited entry

Lefevre, Robin, director. Heartbreak House. By George Bernard Shaw, performances by Philip Bosco and Swoosie Kurtz, Roundabout Theatre Company, 1 Oct. 2006, American Airlines Theatre, New York.

Play performed in a theatre (focus on performance)

Reference format Example
Template Title of Performance. By First Name Last Name, Directed by First Name Last Name, performance by First Name Last Name, Day Month Year of performance, Venue, Location.
Works cited entry

Heartbreak House. By George Bernard Shaw, directed by Robin Lefevre, performances by Philip Bosco and Swoosie Kurtz, Roundabout Theatre Company, 1 Oct. 2006, American Airlines Theatre, New York.

Concert

Reference format Example
Template Performer. Title of Concert. Day Month Year, Venue, Location.
Works cited entry

Beyonce. The Formation World Tour. 14 May 2016, American Airlines Theatre, New York City.

Reading

Reference format Example
Template Performer/Speaker. “Title of Performance.” Title of Whole Work. Venue, City. Day Month Year of performance. 
Works cited entry

Andrews, Martin. “The Poems of Philip Larkin.” Poetry Live. Federation Square, Melbourne. 15 June 2012. 

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ").

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing When Martin Luther King made his inspirational speech the audience …
Direct quote “I have a dream” (King 5:16).

Works cited

  • Give the speaker/performer/director at the beginning of the entry.
  • If it's a stand-alone production, give the title in italics. If it's part of a larger work, a speech or lecture, give the title in quotation marks (" ").
  • Give the form after the URL, e.g. Transcript, Interview, Manuscript.

Video (online)

Reference format Example
Template Performer. “Title.” Title of Website: Title of Series (if relevant). Day Month Year recorded, URL.
Works cited entry

Chu, John M. “The Pride and Power of Representation in Film.” TED: The Power of Film, Apr. 2019, www.ted.com/talks/jon_m_chu_the_pride_and_power_of_representation_in_film?referrer=playlist-the_power_of_film.

Audio (online)

Reference format Example
Template Performer. “Title of speech.” Day Month Year (date of original live speech). Title of Website: Title of Series (if relevant). Day Month Year published online, URL.
Works cited entry

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have a Dream.” 28 Aug. 1963. Internet Archive, 12 Feb. 2005, https://archive.org/details/MLKDream.

Interview transcript (online)

Reference format Example
Template Interviewee. “Title.” Day Month Year recorded. Website, Publisher, URL. Form.
Works cited entry

Eisenhower, Dwight D. “Chance for Peace.” 16 Apr. 1953. Docsteach, National Archives, www.docsteach.org/documents/document/chance-for-peace-speech. Transcript.

E-reader

Reference format Example
Template Author of speech. “Title of Speech.” Title of Whole Work, edited by First Name Last Name, ed., Publisher, Year.
Works cited entry

Goldman, Emma. “What Is Patriotism?” Great Speeches of the Twentieth Century, edited by Bob Blaisdell, Kindle ed., Dover Publications, 2011. 

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and timestamp with hours, minutes and seconds.

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing In this film a retired chef struggles with ... (Eat Drink Man Woman).
Direct quote "Well, what shall we cook for next Sunday's dinner?" (Eat Drink Man Woman 00:16:06).

Works cited

  • If URLs are not available, omit that portion of the citation.
  • Generally, list film directors as key contributors in the Contributor element. However, a director can be listed in the Author element if their role is the focus of your discussion. Invert their name, and follow their name with a label (e.g. 'director') preceded by a comma.
  • Include names of actors as contributors if their performances are the focus of your discussion.

Database

Reference format Example
Template Title of Film. Directed by director’s name/s, performances by performers' names [if relevant], version information, name of film studio or distributor, release year. Name of Database, URL.
Works cited entry

Una Rosa de Francia. Directed by Manual Gutiérrez Aragón, performances by Jorge Perugorría, Álex González and Ana de Armas, 2006. CMAX TV,  www.cmaxtv.com/una-rosa-de-francia.

Eat Drink Man Woman. Directed by Ang Lee, 1994. Kanopy, www.kanopystreaming.com/product/eat-drink-man-woman.

Werther: The musical. Directed by Kwanghwa Cho, 2023. Kanopy, www.kanopy.com/en/federation/video/14569834.

Online 

Reference format Example
Template "Title of Episode." Title of Series or Program, director's name, season number, episode number, distributor's name, date of release. Name of service provider, URL.
Works cited entry

"Capitulo 1". UNO, directed by Roly Peña and Alberto Luberta Martínez, season 1, episode 1, RTV Comercial, 5 Jan 2015. CMAX TV, www.cmaxtv.com/player/uno1/stream/a19651479f07635c110f40cce1214d8f.

"Chapter two: A touch of evil." Riverdale, season 1, episode 2, The CW television network, 3 Feb. 2017. Netflix, www.netflix.com/au/title/80133311.

 

"Gambling." You can't ask that, series 2, ABC, 6 Apr. 2017. iview, iview.abc.net.au/programs/you-cant-ask-that/LE1617H010S00.

 

"Under the Gun." Pretty Little Liars, season 4, episode 6, ABC Family, 16 Jul. 2013. Hulu, www.hulu.com/watch/511318.

 

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide a timestamp to indicate the exact starting point of the quote.

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing In a recent episode of Australian story “An Open Mind” Leigh Sales introduced the story of a doctor who …
Direct quote “In today’s episode I will be interview a pioneering doctor who …” (“An Open Mind”).

Works cited

Live television/radio broadcast

If the episode or segment does not have a season or episode number, don't include that information.

Reference format Example
Template "Title of Episode or segment." Title of Series or Program, director's name, contributor's name, season number, episode number, distributor's name, date of airing.
Works cited entry

"Welcome to Happyland." Life Matters, narrated by Joel Carnegie, Radio National, ABC, 13 Nov. 2015.

“An Open Mind.” Australian Story, hosted by Leigh Sales, season 28, episode 33, ABC, 30 Dec. 2023. 

“Weekend Update at Home.” Saturday Night Live, created by Lorne Michaels, performance by Tina Fey, season 45, episode 18, SNL Studios, 9 May 2020.

Television news broadcast (Database)

If contributors are not available, don't include that portion of the citation.

Reference format Example
Template "Title of Episode." Title of Series, director's name, season number, episode number, distributor's name, date of release, disc number.
Works cited entry

“Ecuador to rule on Assange asylum bid.” Lateline, narrated by Emma Alberici, ABC 1 Melbourne, 21 Jun. 2012. TVNews, https://go.openathens.net/redirector/federation.edu.au?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.informit.org%2Fdoi%2F10.3316%2Ftvnews.tev20122506868.

“This government has been dishonest, incompetent and should go but what exactly is the alternative offered by the Liberals?” The Bolt Report, Ten Network, 26 May 2013. TVNews, https://go.openathens.net/redirector/federation.edu.au?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.informit.org%2Fdoi%2F10.3316%2Ftvnews.tsm201305260107.

Television series 

  • If the show is discussed in a general way and does not focus on an individual's contribution, do not cite an author. Instead, start the reference with the title of the episode.
  • If the episode does not have a season or episode number, omit the information.
  • Including information about the director and other key participants is optional.
  • Include the DVD disc number, if applicable.
Reference format Example
Template "Title of Episode." Title of Series, director's name, season number, episode number, distributor's name, date of release, disc number.
Works cited entry

"The Trip." Seinfeld, directed by Tom Cherones, season 4, episode 10, NVC, 12 Aug. 1992.

“Once More with Feeling.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer, directed by Joss Whedon, season 6, episode 7, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2006.

"Episode One." Downton Abbey, directed by Brian Percival, series 1, episode 1, Carnival Films, 2010, disc 1.

DVD (whole episode)  

If your discussion is focused on one participant, list the main participant as the author.

Reference format Example
Template Title of Series, Creator's name, contributor's name, season number, distributor's name, date of release. Form.
Works cited entry

Friends: The Complete Sixth Season, written by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen, directed by Kevin Bright, NBC, 10 Feb. 2000. Warner Brothers, 2004. DVD.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, performance by Sarah Michelle Gellar, season 4, Mutant Enemy, 1999. DVD.

Gellar, Sarah Michelle, performer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mutant Enemy, 1997-2003. DVD.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide a timestamp with hours, minutes and seconds.

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing Marty McFly is a wonderful film character … (Back to the Future).
Direct quote "Wait a minute, Doc. Are you telling me that you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?" (Back to the Future 00:29:06-07).

Works cited

  • Give the title (in italics), the role and name of the primary contributor (e.g., 'director' or 'writer'), the studio and the year of release. See examples for primary contributor role variations.
  • Generally list film directors as key contributors in the Contributor element. However, if the director's role is the focus of your discussion, it can be listed in the Author element. Invert their name and follow their name with a label (eg director) preceded by a comma.
  • Include the names of actors as contributors if their performances are the focus of your discussion.

Film

Reference format Example
Template Title of Film. Directed by director's name/s, performances by performer names [if relevant], Film Studio/ Distributor, Release year.
Works cited entry

Back to the Future. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, performances by Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, Universal Pictures, 1985.

Othello. Directed by Stuart Burge, Japanese subtitles by Shunji Shimizu, BHE Films, 1965.

DVD/BLU-RAY release

Reference format Example
Template Title of Film. Directed by director's name/s, performances by performer names [if relevant], Film Studio/ Distributor, Release year.
Works cited entry

Man of Steel. Directed by Zach Snyder, Warner Bros, 2013. DVD.

DVD/BLU-RAY re-issue or release of a different version

  • If the film version is different from the original (e.g. director's cut), include the date of release and date of version (e.g. '1982').
  • If the version information is not available, omit that portion of the citation.
Reference format Example
Template Title of Film. Directed by director's name/s, performances by performer names [if relevant], Film Studio/ Distributor, Release year.
Works cited entry

Blade Runner. 1982. Directed by Ridley Scott, Director’s cut, Warner Bros., 1992. DVD.

In-text citations

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing Fallout: New Vegas is a new game that ...
Direct quote “Who are you, that you do not know your history?” (Fallout 12:00).

Works cited

  • Give the title in italics, followed by description.
  • Give the name of the company and year of release.
  • For online games, add the website name and retrieval date.
Reference format Example
Template Title. Description. Publisher, Year. Website, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Works cited entry

Fallout: New Vegas. Video game. Bethesda Softwork, 2010. 

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the year and a timestamp to indicate the exact starting point of the quote.

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing Research into gaming productivity suggests that ... (McGonigal).
Direct quote "There has been some fascinating research to suggest that ..." (McGonigal 00:01).

Works cited

Reference format Example
Template “Video title.” Podcast Name. Uploaded by name, publication date, URL.
Works cited entry

“8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube. Uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlpjSEtELs.

McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide a timestamp to indicate the exact starting point of the quote.

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing In this clip Brian Behlendorf questions the accuracy of information on the internet in the context of fake news.
Direct quote "There has been some fascinating research to suggest that ..." (McGonigal 00:01).

Works cited

  • If the author is the same as the uploader, only cite them once.
  • If the author and uploader are different, include the uploader's name after the website title, preceded by 'uploaded by'.
  • Use the screen name as the author name if the author name is unknown.
Reference format Example
Template Family name, First name. "Video title." Title of website, uploaded by name, date uploaded, URL.
Works cited entry

“8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube, uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlpjSEtELs.

Behlendorf, Brian. "What If the Internet Could Not Tell a Lie? Blockchain, Fake News, Rumor Mills." YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 29 Aug. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmWFrrOHECg.

Pierman, Nicole. “In Loving Memory of Kerry Greenwood.” Nicole’s Bookish Nook, uploaded by Nicole Pierman, 18 Jul. 2025, youtu.be/ntTypmlf1sg?si=ydYy81vySN7r-x5w.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide a timestamp to indicate the exact starting point of the quote.

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing Dark masks with beaks were worn by doctors as the Plague raged … (Honchell Smith 2022 02:24).
Direct quote In 1656 Plague victims near death would often “see a strange-looking man wearing a beak-like mask, his body covered from head to toe” (Honchell Smith 00:25).

Works cited

  • If the author is the same as the uploader, only cite them once.
  • If the author and uploader are different, then include the 'uploaded by' name.
  • If author's name is unknown, use the screen name as the author name.
Reference format Example
Template Family name, First name. "Video title." Title of website, uploaded by name, Day Month Year, URL. 
Works cited entry

Honchell Smith, Stephanie. “Why Plague Doctors Wore Beaked Masks.” YouTube, uploaded by TED-Ed, 23 Nov. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMt8xm4t7XQ.

Honchell Smith, Stephanie. “Why Plague Doctors Wore Beaked Masks.” TEDEd, https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-plague-doctors-wore-beaked-masks.