TONO's online revenues have been steadily increasing throughout the years, and this continued in 2017. The percentage growth was somewhat higher in 2017 due to an accounting credit in 2016. Nevertheless, compared to the 2015 result of 101,8 million, we see a growth of approximately 30 percent in two years. The growth is due to the increasing use of digital services, where in particular video on demand services such as Netflix have had a positive impact on TONO's online revenues.
The use of TONO members' music abroad is growing rapidly. Most people are familiar with individual successes such as Alan Walker, Kygo and others, but it is worth noting that we see a 65% increase in the number of TONO members who have received foreign payments through TONO in the period 2014-2017. 7,588 members received foreign payments in 2014, but in 2017 this had risen to 12,526. In the same three-year period, foreign income has increased from NOK 35,2 million to NOK 68,5 million. In addition to increased use of TONO repertoire abroad, the increase shows that TONO's collaboration with management companies in other countries provides value, and that TONO's efforts in following up on members' activities abroad are bearing fruit.
In 2017, TONO had a turnover of kr 661 321 235
Distribution after statutory deduction of 2% to the Norwegian Composers' Fund (managed by the Ministry of Culture), losses and administrative costs were kr 570,097,470. The cost percentage was 12 percent.
| Females | Men | Music publisher |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | 79% | 1% |
At the end of 2017, TONO had 74 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.
In 2017, TONO was involved in the work on copyright and the framework conditions for TONO members both in Norway and internationally. In April, CEO Cato Strøm gave a speech at the hearing on the preparation of a new cultural report. In May, then-chairman Bendik Hofseth gave a speech at the Storting's Family and Culture Committee's open hearing on the preparation of a new Norwegian copyright law. Further work on the law was postponed until 2018. In June, TONO urged members to sign a campaign launched by the European collection management companies' lobby organization in Brussels, Gesac.
The campaign, which was a continuation of the same campaign the previous year, pointed out the injustice of user-generated platforms having large revenues from artistic and creative content without sharing the revenues with the rights holders ("transfer of value"). Many TONO members signed, and Gesac says that the campaign was noticed by key decision-makers in the EU, and has had a positive effect on the EU's work on a new copyright directive.
Department Director for Online Media, Inger Elise Mey, was re-elected as Chair of CISAC's Media Technical Committee for two new years. CISAC is the global umbrella organization for collecting societies, and this committee is one of CISAC's most important international forums for exchanging experiences, issues, results and strategic thoughts in the field of copyright in digital media. TONO also has permanent representatives in a legal committee in Gesac, as well as a number of other international forums under the auspices of CISAC and Gesac.
In 2017, TONO was involved in a wide range of important meeting points for Norwegian songwriters and the industry in general. This includes Spellemann, Trondheim Calling, by:Larm, Vill Vill Vest in Bergen and Sørveiv in Kristiansand. TONO was also a supporter of the songwriter camp by:Songs and contributed support to the development and networking program KUPP, launched on the occasion of the Norwegian Composers' Association's 100th anniversary.
In 2017, TONO scholarships were awarded for kr 10,765,000 as well kr 1,182,500 under the Young Talents scholarship scheme.
TONO's marketing department, consisting of 18 employees, is responsible for the background music and concert market areas.
The background music sector remains stable, but it is worth noting that the concert market is growing significantly. Although the percentage increase in revenue has leveled off somewhat from previous years, live revenues increased by over 12% from 2016 to 2017. Of the approximately 35,000 concerts that are billed by TONO each year, around half are licensed through annual agreements and the remainder as individual concerts.