Professional conflict between Anna Vissi and Nikos Karvelas regarding music rights

A public dispute has emerged between singer Anna Vissi and composer Nikos Karvelas, following their long-standing creative collaboration. The tension escalated after Karvelas withdrew his mandate from the collective management organization Autodiaxeirisi, effectively asserting his rights to control the performance of his catalog of over 400 songs. This move, based on Article 12 par. 2 of Law 4481/2017, grants the composer the power to authorize or prohibit the live performance of his works.

The friction reportedly stems from disagreements surrounding Vissi's recent concert at OAKA on September 26, 2026, with Karvelas alleging unpaid dues and poor communication. While media outlets initially speculated about legal injunctions to ban Vissi from performing his songs, Karvelas's lawyer, Archontoula Papapanagiotou, explicitly denied that such injunctions were filed.

Anna Vissi’s legal counsel, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, has stated that Vissi will not continue the public debate, asserting that no court can legally prohibit her from performing songs that have become part of the cultural fabric of Greece and Cyprus. The parties remain in a state of professional estrangement, with reports suggesting Vissi is currently not planning immediate new releases or collaborations.