Greek singer Nino has lashed out at music industry figures following the death of fellow artist Giorgos Mazonakis, accusing behind the scenes manipulators of degrading living performers.
In a video posted to his personal Instagram account on Tuesday, September 29, the singer targeted individuals who operate secretly within the music business. He claimed that these figures routinely undermine artists throughout their careers, only to become the first to organize televised tributes and praise them once they pass away.
Nino, whose real name is Nino Xypolitas, is a prominent Greek singer and songwriter who first gained national fame on the reality television talent show Fame Story in 2002. Giorgos Mazonakis was a major figure in modern Greek laiko and pop music, renowned for his distinct stage presence and a career spanning several decades across Greece.
Reflecting on his own entry into the industry 24 years ago, Nino stated that he received immense love from the public when he first emerged in 2002. He explained that because cameras monitored the contestants 24 hours a day during his early television appearance, artists could not construct fake personas or engage in deceitful behavior, allowing audiences to connect with his genuine character and music.
Accusations of behind the scenes manipulation
However, Nino emphasized that the atmosphere in the music world has deteriorated since he began his career. He stated that while the industry was much purer in the past, it is now dominated by manipulative parasites who work continuously to undermine authentic and self-reliant artists.
According to the singer, these individuals sit at key industry tables where they whisper spiteful remarks to shape the artistic landscape and push independent talent out of view. He noted that he has experienced this hostility firsthand throughout his nearly 25 years in music, adding that he has never belonged to any industry court or relied on corporate sponsors.
Nino asserted that he remains entirely free and independent, shining by his own light rather than depending on powerful figures to illuminate his career. He added that he has maintained a mental record over the years of the specific people he detests, noting that both his inner circle and the public know these individuals by name.
Tribute to Giorgos Mazonakis
Addressing the death of Giorgos Mazonakis, Nino expressed deep personal distress over the loss and the circumstances surrounding the singer's passing. He described Mazonakis as a true rock star, a historical figure in Greek music, and an authentic creator driven by original ideas.
Nino noted that he has been closely watching how industry insiders are treating Mazonakis's memory in the days following his death. He stated that while parasites attempt to shape an artist's legacy behind closed doors, their efforts fail because the public recognizes genuine authenticity and loved Mazonakis for who he truly was.
The singer stressed that no behind the scenes meeting or private conversation can alter the permanent legacy of a self-made artist once the audience has embraced them. He insisted that what ultimately endures is how an artist is remembered by the public rather than how they are portrayed by industry executives.
Warning over parasitic industry figures
Concluding his message, Nino urged his followers and fellow artists to remain vigilant against toxic people surrounding them. He stated that the world is fundamentally divided into authentic individuals who generate their own light and dependent figures who merely reflect the work of others.
