Are Band Names Italicized? (APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago)

The question of how to cite a band name in academic writing is one that confuses many people. This article looks at how to insert band names into a text in a range of formal writing styles.

Are Band Names Italicized?

Band names are not put in italics for APA, AP, MLA, or Chicago styles. However, the names of songs and albums are usually in either italics or quotation marks. Furthermore, when writing a band name in the text, a “definite article” such as “the” should be lower case.

When writing band names in an essay or a paper, you do not need to put the name of the band in capital letters. However, any “stand-alone” works that the band produced, such as songs and albums, should be in italics.

The guidance doesn’t really vary between the different style guides, which all have the same rule regarding band names.

However, some guides state that song names should be in italics, others like AP say they should be in quotation marks, and others say both.

This kind of specific detail is often down to the discretion of the institution or the teacher; however, as a general rule of thumb, it is best to use italics for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles and quotation marks for AP Style.

Here are some examples of how citing a band name in a paper would look:

• The day I saw the Who in concert was the day that they released “My Generation”, so people were keen to hear that song.
• The day I saw the Who in concert was the day that they released My Generation, so people were keen to hear that song.
• Many believe that the Rolling Stones were much better in concert than the Beatles.

Are Band Names Quoted?

For the most part, band names are not placed in quotation marks in any style of formal writing. It is not necessary to do anything to the band name other than removing the capital letter from the word “The” if you are referring to the band in-text.

The only time you would use quotation marks on a band name is if you are directly quoting something like:

• I looked up and saw a sign in Time Square which read “The Beatles Live in Concert”.

However, if you are writing about the concert and not quoting, there would be no quotation marks.

• I went to see the Beatles in Times Square in 1965, and it was the best concert I have ever seen.

Are Band Names Italicized in APA Style?

In APA Style, it is unnecessary to put band names in italics under any circumstances. However, if you mention a song or album name in APA Style, then that should go in italics.

Here are some examples of how a band name would look if used in-text:

• The album St Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band was the most successful album by the Beatles.
• I am glad I got a chance to see Oasis before they split up.
• OK Computer was the album that propelled Radiohead to worldwide fame.

Are Band Names Italicized in AP Style?

In AP Style, it is not necessary to use italics for band names. As a matter of fact, it is not required to use italics for anything in AP Style because in the past, when “news” stories were sent via the “wire”, it was impossible to include italics. Of course, this is no longer the case today, but AP Style still does not use italics.

For individual songs or albums by a band or artist, the name should appear in quotation marks. Here are examples of how a band name would look in AP Style:

• The Stone Roses, who released the smash hit “Fool’s Gold”, were one of the most successful bands of the early 90s.
• The album “Dark Side of the Moon” was released by Pink Floyd in 1973.

Are Band Names Italicized in Chicago Style?

When citing a band in a piece of formal writing that follows the Chicago Style, it is not necessary to use italics for the band name. However, if you mention an album or song name, you should use italics for that. Also, if the word “the” appears in the band name, you should change it to lowercase when citing in-text.

Here are some examples of how a band name would look in Chicago Style:

• The album Please Please Me was the first full-length release by the Beatles.
• The first Radiohead album was called On a Friday and was released in 1986.

Are Band Names Italicized in MLA Style?

In MLA Style, it is not necessary to use italics for band names; however, you should use italics for song and album names. Also, if the band name contains the word “the” at the start, this should be in lowercase when citing the name of a band in-text.

Here is how a band name would look in MLA Style:

• The album Let it Be was the final release of the Beatles.
• The best-selling album of the band REM was Murmur, which sold almost 2 million copies.

Are Artist Names Italicized?

The rules for artist names in APA, MLA, AP, and Chicago are the same for those of band names, which means that they should not be in italics under any circumstances. However, their work, such as songs, albums, and films, is in italics and sometimes in quotation marks, depending on the individual specifications set by the institution or professor.

Here is how an in-text citation would look for an artist’s name:

• I am glad I saw David Bowie perform live in concert before he died.
• The singer, Ian Brown of the Stone Roses, sang the lead vocal on the UNKLE song Be There.
• The singer, Ian Brown of the Stone Roses, sang the lead vocal on the UNKLE song “Be There”.

Final Thoughts

In formal writing and essays, using italics for band names or artist names in APA, MLA, AP, or Chicago Style is not necessary. However, when mentioning songs or albums, for MLA, Chicago, and APA, they should be in italics, and for AP, they should be in quotation marks.