AEG teams with Tim Hinshaw: New era for Hip-Hop & R&B tours

Industry veteran Tim Hinshaw joins forces with AEG Presents following the success of Kendrick Lamar’s “Pop Out” event, aiming to elevate Hip-Hop and R&B touring experiences.

AEG Presents, a prominent concert promotion and artist development company, has announced a strategic partnership with Tim Hinshaw and his creative studio, Free Lunch. This collaboration follows the success of “The Pop Out – Ken & Friends” Juneteenth concert at the Kia Forum, presented by pgLang and Free Lunch. The event, streamed globally on Amazon Music, set a new record for minutes watched on the platform.

Hinshaw, recognized for his contributions to the music and creative agency sectors, will focus on securing and marketing hip-hop, R&B, and gospel tours for AEG’s Global Touring division.

“I’m honored that this chapter started with Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Pop Out—Ken & Friends,’ an iconic moment for LA and Hip-Hop,” Hinshaw stated. “CPartnering with AEG is a natural next step for Free Lunch. I have been very fortunate in my career to play a role in delivering some of the most unforgettable live music experiences for the culture and look forward to continuing that success with Rich and the whole AEG team moving forward.”

Rich Schaefer, President of Global Touring at AEG Presents, commented, “Tim’s connection to Hip-Hop and R&B, whether it’s the music, the artists, or the culture, is unmatched. I am excited to bring someone of Tim’s stature on to help our team expand in an area we’ve already had so much success in. His spirit and energy will be a great addition to the Touring team, and we look forward to learning from him as we help build our business together.”

Tim Hinshaw is the Founder and CEO of Free Lunch, a creative agency that aims to connect culture and corporate America. Before establishing Free Lunch, Hinshaw spent five years at Amazon as the head of Hip-Hop and R&B, where he managed the streaming service’s industry strategy and partnerships across these genres, including the global brand Rotation.

In 2022, Hinshaw facilitated the exclusive livestream of Kendrick Lamar’s “The Big Steppers Tour: Live from Paris” on Amazon Music and Prime Video. He also led artist negotiations for “Amazon Music Live,” a concert series streamed on Twitch and Prime Video following Thursday Night Football, securing performers such as Lil Baby, A$AP Rocky, and 21 Savage.

Hinshaw’s previous experience includes creating the Urban Music division at Fender Guitars and working in music marketing for Vans. He began his career in music co-managing his brother, songwriter Charles ‘Prince Charlez’ Hinshaw, which resulted in a joint venture label deal with Island Def Jam and a global co-publishing agreement with Rondor/Universal Music.

This partnership between AEG Presents and Tim Hinshaw’s Free Lunch studio appears poised to bring new opportunities and experiences to the hip-hop, R&B, and gospel music landscapes.