Audiovisual Media (Videos, Podcasts, Music)

This section covers how to cite various types of audiovisual media, including videos, podcasts, and music recordings, in APA Style. The format varies slightly depending on the medium, but the core principle is to provide enough information for the reader to locate the specific source.

1. Videos

The format for citing a video includes the following elements:

  • Author/Creator: The person or group who created the video. If the uploader is different from the creator, use the creator as the author. For YouTube, this is often the username.
  • Year, Month, Day: The date the video was published.
  • Title: The title of the video. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, and proper nouns.
  • Source: The platform or website where the video is located (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo).
  • URL: The full URL of the video.
General Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of video. Source. URL
Example:
Khan Academy. (2020, October 2). Intro to logarithms. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBp9xydmmqo
More Detailed Breakdown for Videos:
  • Author/Creator: Identify the creator of the video. This could be an individual, a group, or an organization. For YouTube, use the uploader's username if the real name is not available. If both are available, use the real name. If the video is from a corporate source, use the corporation name.
  • Date: Provide the full date of publication, including the year, month, and day. This information is usually available on the video platform.
  • Title: Italicize the title of the video. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, and proper nouns.
  • Source: Include the name of the platform or website where the video is hosted (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, TED Talks).
  • URL: Provide the complete and accurate URL of the video. Ensure the URL links directly to the video.

Important Notes:

  • Online Streaming: When citing music from a streaming service (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music), you can often omit the label and provide a URL to the song or album.
  • Versions: If you are citing a specific version of a song or video (e.g., a live performance, a remix), include that information in brackets after the title.
  • Missing Information: If any information is missing, provide as much as possible. If the creator of a video is not known, start with the title. If the release date of a song is unknown, use "n.d."
  • Accuracy: Double-check the accuracy of all information, especially URLs.
  • Consistency: Apply the same formatting consistently throughout your reference list.