If you are played on NRK Radio or TV from January to March this year, you will be among the first to have your TONO remuneration calculated in September based on a method adopted by TONO's board on February 7th.
/ 03/03/2022 / Willy MartinsenIn 2019, TONO's board adopted a new model for how the TONO fee for performances on NRK Radio and TV will be settled. This replaced the previous settlement model for the NRK area. After a transition period from 2019 to 2021, the model will finally be launched in its full form in 2022. The model, which was established in 2019, is based on two basic principles: A basic amount and a market-determined amount. On 7 February, TONO's board decided that the basic amount will constitute 30 percent of the NRK fee.
The model where remuneration is calculated based on a base amount and a market-determined amount means that a base amount is given for the actual making of the music available, while the market-determined amount is calculated based on the individual channel's market share.
TONO distributes the basic amount between the various NRK TV and radio channels based on how much music is used in the channel. The more music, the higher the basic value. The market shares are based on the number of minutes the Norwegian population has listened to or watched the various channels. These are figures TONO obtains from Nielsen Media Research and Kantar TNS. In addition, the channels' broadcast area and music percentage are used.
Broadcasting settlement based on both availability and market share is a model used by a number of copyright societies, including the Danish KODA and the British PRS. The reason why availability is emphasized in TONO's NRK settlement is that availability is a fundamental principle when it comes to licensing music. At the same time, it is important to look at where the listening and viewing takes place, and how many listeners the music reaches.
The decision by TONO's board on February 7th means that the basic amount will constitute 30 percent of the total remuneration allocated for settlement for performances on NRK. The decision covers music performed from January 1st of this year, and will form the basis for NRK settlements from September onwards.
With a basic amount of 30 percent, the distribution amount for the largest channels P1 and NRK1 will be approximately the same as today. NRK channels with little music and a low market share will be able to be allocated a smaller settlement amount than previously. Channels with a lot of music and a high market share will be able to get more. At the same time, several of NRK's niche channels where a lot of music is played will get a higher distribution amount.
The new settlement method for the NRK area, which has been used since 2019, is based on four main goals and criteria:
1. TONO settlements for NRK performances shall be based on objective criteria, 2. a clearer connection shall be established between the licensing of the music and TONO's distribution of money, 3. there shall be adequate payment for the actual making of music available regardless of which NRK channel the music is played on and how large a market share it has, and 4. The channels' listenership and viewership numbers shall be emphasized.
For any questions, please contact TONO's member service.