“A brilliant series … each one a work of real love.” – NME
“One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planet.” – Bookslut
“Passionate, obsessive, and smart.” – Nylon

Widely acclaimed by fans, musicians and scholars alike, the 33 ⅓ series dives deep into your favorite artists, albums and genres.

In October 2003 we published our first ever batch of 33 ⅓ books, each one focusing on a popular LP. Since then we’ve covered many artists and albums, from Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures to Celine Dion’s Let’s Talk About Love, Duran Duran’s Rio to Kraftwerk’s Computer World, and Madvillain’s Madvillainy to Britney Spears’s Blackout. Each album covered in the series occupies such a specific place in music history, so each book-length treatment is different.

Since the formation of the original 33 ⅓ series, we’ve partnered with Spotify on the 33 ⅓ Podcast, hosted by renowned record producer and DJ, Prince Paul. We’ve launched 33 ⅓ Brazil, 33 ⅓ Japan, 33 ⅓ Oceania, 33 ⅓ Europe, and in 2024, will be launching 33 ⅓ South Asia. Most recently we released Genre: A 33 ⅓ Series, which guides readers through musical sub-genres that have intrigued, perplexed, or provoked listeners.

20 years, 6 spin-off series, and over 200 books later, we’re still going strong!

Looking to add to your 33 1/3 collection?

These books are available to buy online (including from Bloomsbury.com) and in bookshops worldwide (don’t forget to check out your local indie bookstore). A full list of available titles can be found on Bloomsbury’s website, right here.

Want to write about music?

Check out How To Write About Music, a textbook for anyone who has ever dreamed of getting their music writing published.