Profile
Kike Aluko Wahutu is a member of the Entertainment & Media Practice at Greenberg Traurig. She focuses her practice on a diverse range of transactions within the entertainment industry with an emphasis on digital music licensing, music-related deals for film and television, and the representation of talent. She has experience drafting and negotiating digital content agreements with music licensors on behalf of clients with digital music/media services, music deals in connection with original film/TV content on major streaming platforms, and various music agreements on behalf of talent clients, including agreements with recording artists, music producers, songwriters, composers, music supervisors, record labels, music publishing companies, and more. As a classically trained musician and an MBA graduate, Kike brings a variety of valuable perspectives to her practice that provide her with a unique understanding of the creative and business issues facing the music industry. Kike also maintains an active pro bono practice focused on representing individuals from marginalized communities in the music industry and beyond.
Concentrations
- Digital distribution
- Digital media licensing
- Entertainment and media transactions
- Music publishing
- Recording, distribution, and licensing agreements
Capabilities
Experience
- Assist licensees of music – including digital service providers, fitness companies, and startup services – in securing deals with rights-holders (including record labels, music publishers, and performing rights organizations).
- Assist film and TV production studios in the acquisition of music licenses to create original content, which includes deals with composers, music supervisors, record labels, music publishers, and artists.
- Draft and negotiate television and motion picture soundtrack agreements on behalf of film and TV production studios.
- Lead weekly team review of music matters for production studio subsidiary of global technology conglomerate.
- Represent companies in the negotiation of agreements with music creators, social media influencers, and other talent for marketing campaigns and the creation of branded content partnerships.
- Facilitate agreements between musicians, record producers, songwriters and music publishers.
- Represent music artist in the catalogue sale of master royalties, publishing copyrights, public performance royalties, and neighboring rights royalties.
- Management Leadership for Tomorrow, Strategic Initiatives, 2012-2015
- Associate Director, 2014-2015
- Manager, 2012-2014
- Program Associate, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Health Communication & Media Partnerships, 2009-2012
- Intern, Nigerian Copyright Commission, 2019
- Global Licensing Intern, Spotify, 2017
- MBA Intern, Creative Artists Agency, Global Client Strategy, 2016
- Music Curation Intern, Pandora Media, Inc., 2015
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," Entertainment and Sports Law, 2024
- Team Member, a Law360 “Media & Entertainment Practice Group of the Year,” 2022
- Associate Board Member, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, 2023-Present
- Inaugural Cohort, Black Music Executives Pipeline Program, 2021
- Member, The Recording Academy, 2021-Present
- Member, Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, 2020-Present
- Affiliate, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, 2019-Present
- Volunteer, The Recording Academy, Washington, D.C. Chapter, 2013-2015
- Member, The District Church Production Team, 2013-2015
- Piano Instructor, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, 2009-2010
Credentials
- J.D., Harvard Law School
- M.B.A., Harvard Business School
- B.A., Stanford University
- Georgia
- New York