Thirty Tigers was co-founded in 2002 by industry veterans David Macias and Deb Markland, who shared a love of music and marketing and the belief that the onslaught of major label consolidation combined with advances in technology would result in many viable artists joining the ranks of the independent world. Thirty Tigers has been bolstered by an aggressive team of creative thinkers, including industry veteran Bob Goldstone to oversee the company's sales effort, Traci Thomas to oversee publicity, TJ Flood and Katy Kirby with the help of Sarah Musgrave to run the online marketing and digital sales department, Nancy Quinn, Logan Rogers, Cheryl Moore and Parker Nusbickel to oversee project management and Lindsay Reid to lead radio efforts. The artist management staff includes many of those already mentioned as well as Christian Roreau, Geoff Harrison, John “JT” Turner, and Matt Bury, who oversees tour marketing. Thirty Tigers recently brought on Kim Buie to oversee A&R, and has entered into a strategic relationship with Essential Music to bring releases to the European marketplace.

In 2004, the company created its own label imprint and partnered with American Roots Publishing for the inaugural release Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster. The album, co-produced by Macias, won critical acclaim and the Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album.

Persistently updating and recreating its philosophies and services to fit the changing tides of the music industry, Thirty Tigers has helped foster success stories for a number of artists including The Avett Brothers, Flogging Molly, James McMurtry, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Ben Sollee, Jason Isbell, Patterson Hood, The Josh Abbott Band, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Chris Knight, Casey Donahew Band, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, The Eli Young Band, Paul Thorn, Those Darlins, Aaron Watson, Jake Shimabukuro and Trampled by Turtles. These past eleven years have seen independent music roar into the mainstream, and Thirty Tigers has been there to answer the call.

In late 2006, Thirty Tigers announced an artist management arm, which is currently proud to represent Elizabeth Cook, Jason Isbell, Jessie Baylin, Low, Retribution Gospel Choir, Those Darlins, Derek Hoke, Luella and the Sun, Kris Orlowski, and Trampled by Turtles.