Making it in the music business takes more than raw talent. It requires an unbreakable spirit, sheer force of will, an inability to take "no" for an answer, a scrappy sense of self-promotion, and a propensity for impeccable timing. Oh yeah, and a bucketload of talent. Even when all these stars align, the odds of landing a record deal and playing for hordes of adoring fans are still pretty slim. But a few people find their way into the spotlight, and with an unwavering work ethic and musical genius, manage to stay there long enough to help shape the soundtrack of our daily lives.

We went on a worldwide search for the people who are doing, or about to do, just that. We found 30 solo musicians all age 30 or younger from the United States, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, England, and Chile who are already changing the music industry as we know it. Some croon country, others are reinventing jazz, and others are taking pop to a whole new level. So plug some speakers in, turn the volume up, and lose yourself in the sounds of our 30 Under 30: Musicians to Know.