TONO's member service consisted of a total of 7 full-time employees in 2016. The department provides service to TONO's members – both individuals and music publishers – which includes assistance with entering into management agreements, registering works and changes to registered works, questions about settlements, handling complaints and contact with TONO's sister societies in other countries around the world. The department is also involved in international forums, works on the development of new systems and solutions, and is responsible for extensive external speaking and recruitment activities.
| Member service phones | Emails from members | Music reports from concerts |
|---|---|---|
| 3782 | 11932 | 21700 |
In August, TONO submitted a consultation response to the Ministry of Culture regarding the proposal for a new Copyright Act. In the letter, TONO expressed satisfaction with the Ministry's proposal for a new Copyright Act, given that existing legislation has been partly outdated and lagging behind technological developments. TONO emphasized that it is necessary for the final bill to help restore this balance. The new Copyright Act will be adopted by the Storting in 2017.
In 2012, TONO sued RiksTV in the Oslo District Court, claiming damages for failure to clear copyrighted music rights. On 14 June 2016, the judgment was in TONO's favor. The court based its judgment on the fact that RiksTV is responsible for independent access and public performance that must be cleared with the authors pursuant to Section 2 of the Copyright Act. TONO was fully upheld in all claims, and RiksTV was ordered to pay all of TONO's legal costs. RiksTV has appealed the judgment.
In 2016, TONO had a turnover of kr 541 884 811
Distribution after statutory deduction of 2% to the Norwegian Composers' Fund (managed by the Ministry of Culture), losses and administrative costs were kr 447 339 687
The cost percentage was at 15,05 percent.
| Females | Men | Music publisher |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | 79% | 1% |
At the end of 2016, TONO had 73 reciprocal agreements with sister societies in other countries. Some of the agreements cover several countries, and in total they give TONO representation in more than a hundred countries and territories. The reciprocal agreements mean that the companies collect remuneration for public performances of each other's repertoires in their respective countries and territories, and settle the funds back to the various companies for further settlement to the rights holders in the performed works.
On 5 September, European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip personally delivered a letter from Gesac, the lobbying organisation for European copyright management companies. The letter, which was also sent to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, highlighted the need to address the transfer of value problem, which means that online services can generate significant revenues from the sharing of cultural content without legally requiring content creators to receive a share of the revenues.
More than 22,000 European creators signed the letter. TONO's announcement of the petition campaign generated great engagement, with more than 700 Norwegian signatures. Gesac claims that the letter and the signatures made an impression on the Commission. Read the letter, and see the signatures, at makeinternetfair.eu
TONO also sponsored by:Larm and Spellemann in 2016.
At by:Larm, TONO contributed with several lectures, a panel discussion on "Transfer of value", three TONO Sessions interviews with Odd Nordstoga and Daniel Kvammen, Anneli Drecker and Ine Hoem as well as OnklP and Mats Lie Skåre. TONO also co-organized a seminar called "New Opportunities for Your Music" together with NOPA, the Norwegian Composers' Association and the Music Publishers.
TONO was also a sponsor and partner of Spellemann. TONO's support is the guarantor that Spellemann has the categories Composer and Lyricist, and TONO appointed the members of the jury for the composer award. In 2016, the composer award was profiled as "TONO's composer award", which in addition to sponsor posters before and after the broadcasts gave TONO great visibility related to Spellemann.
TONO's online revenues also increased in 2016, with NOK 115 million in total revenues. These come mainly from music streaming services and video on demand services. The latter business area in particular has been a positive element in TONO's online revenues over the past couple of years, and this development is expected to continue in 2017.
In November, TONO launched a campaign that aimed to increase awareness of TONO, and to create greater understanding of why companies, organizations and others who use music in the public domain must pay TONO for the use of music. The campaign consisted of the website tono.no/opphavsrett, as well as a campaign film with our members in Madcon, and we used Facebook as the primary channel to reach Norwegians. During the campaign period, the film achieved more than half a million initial views, and the campaign page had more than 40,000 visits.
In 2016, TONO scholarships were awarded for kr 8 675 000 and kr 876 000 under the Young Talents scholarship scheme.
In September, TONO announced that the autumn settlement was the largest ordinary quarterly settlement ever. A total of NOK 131,3 million was settled to rights holders at home and abroad, of which NOK 73,5 million went to TONO members. TONO settled NOK 13,5 million for the use of TONO-managed music abroad, but an additional settlement of NOK 7 million for a legal settlement following a dispute in the cable sector also contributed to the record settlement.