Music executive Kei Henderson is emerging as one of the industry’s most influential advocates for independent artists.
Henderson is the founder and CEO of Third + Hayden, an Atlanta-based artist management, publishing and creative development company that has built partnerships with Live Nation, The Orchard and SoundCloud while championing a business model centered on artist ownership and long-term career development.
A Grammy Award-winning executive, Henderson spent years inside the traditional music industry before launching Third + Hayden. She previously helped guide rapper 21 Savage during a pivotal period of his career, overseeing his management from 2015 to 2019 and contributing to the success of the Grammy-winning song “A Lot,” featuring J. Cole.
Earlier in her career, Henderson co-founded SinceThe80s, a joint venture with Motown and Capitol Music Group, and also held leadership positions at Complex Media and streetwear brand 10.Deep, where she worked at the intersection of music, fashion and digital culture.
Those experiences shaped the philosophy behind Third + Hayden, which allows artists to retain ownership of their music catalogs while providing access to industry resources traditionally associated with major record labels.
The company made history as the first Atlanta-based artist management firm to secure a partnership with Live Nation, giving its roster expanded touring opportunities and business infrastructure while maintaining an independent operating model.
Third + Hayden represents a growing roster of artists spanning hip-hop, R&B, folk-soul and alternative music, including anaiis, Annahstasia, Buddy, Zyah Belle and Ben Reilly.
Beyond artist management, Henderson has become a prominent voice on issues affecting the music industry, including independent business models, artist ownership, mental health and diversity in entertainment.
As a Black, queer executive, she also represents a new generation of industry leaders helping reshape music business leadership. Henderson serves as a member of The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and the Black Music Action Coalition while mentoring emerging professionals through organizations including Femme It Forward and Project-Go-Dark.
Her work has earned recognition from Billboard, where she has appeared on multiple influential industry lists, including Pride, New Power Generation and R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players.
With independent music continuing to gain market share and artists increasingly seeking alternatives to traditional record deals, Henderson says the future belongs to creators who maintain greater control over their careers while building sustainable businesses.
As conversations around equity, ownership and representation continue during Black Music Month and Pride Month, Henderson’s career illustrates how independent leadership is helping redefine success in today’s music industry—one artist-first partnership at a time.