Dimitris Kontopoulos

Kontopoulos has collaborated with numerous Greek recording artists, including Antonis Remos, Despina Vandi, Sakis Rouvas, Anna Vissi, Helena Paparizou and Michalis Hatzigiannis. Outside Greece, he has worked with numerous artists, particularly in the Balkans and Russia, receiving several music industry awards.

• Name — Dimitris Kontopoulos • Native Name — Δημήτρης Κοντόπουλος • Birth Name — Dimitris T. Kontopoulos • Born — 9 November 1971 • Birthplace — Athens, Greece • Genre — * Pop • dance-pop • Occupation — * Composer • songwriter • record producer • Years Active — 1999-present • Label — Major • Website — dimitriskontopoulos.com

Kontopoulos was born in Athens, Greece, on 9 November 1971. After graduating from the Ziridis Educational Institution, he studied film scoring at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Kontopoulos became active in the Greek music industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His early work included production and composition for Greek pop artists, including Iro, Giannis Vardis and Katy Garbi. He later worked with commercially prominent Greek performers such as Antonis Remos, Despina Vandi, Sakis Rouvas, Anna Vissi, Helena Paparizou and Michalis Hatzigiannis. His work is generally associated with contemporary Greek pop and dance-pop production. Public broadcaster ERT describes him as having worked with major names in Greek discography and notes that some of his songs have been covered or adapted in countries including Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Israel.

Kontopoulos has had repeated involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest as a composer, songwriter and producer. His Eurovision-related work has included entries for Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Belarus. He is considered one of the most successful composers in the contest's 70-year history, with the majority of his entries finishing in top positions. "Bangaranga", performed by Dara for Bulgaria, had won the contest in 2026. "Shady Lady", performed by Ani Lorak for Ukraine, placed second in 2008. "Hold Me", performed by Farid Mammadov for Azerbaijan, placed second in 2013. "You Are the Only One", performed by Sergey Lazarev for Russia, placed third in 2016 and won the televote. "Scream", also performed by Lazarev, placed third in 2019.

Kontopoulos is best known for his involvement in several Eurovision Song Contest entries. • Year — Country — Artist — Song — Role — Result • 2007 — Belarus — Dmitry Koldun — "Work Your Magic" — Songwriter — 6th, 145 points • 2008 — Ukraine — Ani Lorak — "Shady Lady" — Songwriter/Producer — 2nd, 230 points • 2009 — Greece — Sakis Rouvas — "This Is Our Night" — 7th, 120 points • 2013 — Azerbaijan — Farid Mammadov — "Hold Me" — 2nd, 234 points • 2014 — Russia — Tolmachevy Sisters — "Shine" — 7th, 89 points • 2016 — Sergey Lazarev — "You Are the Only One" — 3rd, 491 points • 2017 — Greece — Demy — "This Is Love" — 19th, 77 points • 2018 — Azerbaijan — Aisel — "X My Heart" — Semi-final: 11th, 94 points • 2019 — Russia — Sergey Lazarev — "Scream" — 3rd, 369 points • 2020 — Moldova — Natalia Gordienko — "Prison" — Contest cancelled • Greece — Stefania — "Superg!rl" • 2021 — Moldova — Natalia Gordienko — "Sugar" — 13th, 115 points • Greece — Stefania — "Last Dance" — 10th, 170 points • 2024 — Cyprus — Silia Kapsis — "Liar" — 15th, 78 points • 2025 — Theo Evan — "Shh" — Semi-final: 11th, 44 points • 2026 — Bulgaria — Dara — "Bangaranga" — 1st, 516 points

Kontopoulos has production and songwriting credits on Greek pop releases by artists including Iro, Giannis Vardis, Katy Garbi, Sakis Rouvas, Antonis Remos, Despina Vandi, Helena Paparizou and Michalis Hatzigiannis. Industry databases also list credits across studio albums, singles and soundtrack releases. Selected credits include: • Iro – Etsi Ime Ego • Iro – Apogeiosi • Giannis Vardis – Pes Mou Ti Niotheis • Katy Garbi – Emmones Idees • Sakis Rouvas – Iparhi Agapi Edo • Sakis Rouvas – This Is My Live • Sakis Rouvas – Irthes • Ani Lorak – Solntse • Sakis Rouvas – Parafora • Helena Paparizou – Giro Apo T' Oneiro • Kostas Martakis – Entasi

In 2023, a Greek media outlet briefly reported that the Areios Pagos had ruled in favour of Azerbaijani composer Eldar Mansurov in a civil copyright dispute concerning Katy Garbi's song "Esena Mono", credited to Kontopoulos, and Mansurov's song "Bayatılar". However, the article was removed a few hours later, and no official ruling confirming the claim has been published. Kontopoulos continues to be credited as the sole composer of "Esena Mono" across all official releases and major music platforms.