Lina Marie Langøien and Ingrid Elise Østgård have been at the forefront of the work on TONO's new settlement system. (Photo: Kristian Dugstad/TONO)
New billing system increases efficiency and quality:
TONO is in the process of implementing a completely new billing system. With this, TONO is taking an important step into the future, and it is being noticed internationally.
/ 29/05/2026 / Kristian Dugstad/Willy Martinsen
The payment in March was a milestone for TONO. It was the last settlement in TONO's old systems. It was also the first in which a completely new system was used in certain payment areas. The settlement system is the very core of what TONO does, and after a long period of development work, the organization is now taking important steps into the future.
A few years ago, TONO initiated a major technological upgrade: all IT systems were to be replaced. The purpose was to modernize the organization significantly and make TONO a leading player internationally. New systems will streamline work and provide greatly improved services for both customers and members. One of the most important goals is to provide greater value to members. This means more insight into how music is used, and what it provides in return to each individual.
The new billing system is provided by the Irish company Spanish PointWhat started as a limited system replacement quickly grew into a comprehensive development project.
At the forefront of the work are Lina Marie Langøien and Ingrid Elise Østgård. Both have a background in billing, where much of the work previously involved manually processing data and ensuring that works were matched correctly. In recent years, they have been closely involved in the development of the system that is now taking over.
–We have gone from handling data to building systems that handle data, says Ingrid Elise Østgård.
The experience from the settlement work is thus built into the system itself. Processes that previously were the responsibility of individuals are now carried out automatically.
TONO constantly receives enormous amounts of data and reports from companies that use music both in Norway and from sister societies around the world. The information varies in format and quality, and must be linked to the correct works and processed according to various regulations before it can be turned into payments.
– The new system can handle more data than the old one, and provides great opportunities to use and connect all possible data, says Lina Marie Langøien.
Unlike before, TONO can now make changes internally, instead of using external consultants. This saves money and gives TONO greater control.
Changing the billing system is extensive and technically demanding. Much must be developed and implemented in the correct order, and all elements must work together. That is why TONO has pushed back certain billing areas in the spring and summer of 2026.
– It is important that we pay out the correct amounts to the correct people. We have therefore postponed the settlement of certain areas until we are absolutely sure that everything is correct, says Langøien.
– We are working hard to get everything in place as quickly as possible, Østgård interjects.
TONO has been an early adopter of the Spanish Point system. It is being noticed internationally. Several sister societies are in the process of adopting the same solutions, and are coming to TONO to gain experience.
– We receive many inquiries from sister societies that are further behind in the process. We share experiences because we are partners, and because it raises the quality of settlements internationally. It also benefits TONO's members, says Langøien.
Development takes place in parallel with the system being put into use. Errors are discovered during operation and resolved quickly. And it is precisely in this phase that it is possible to influence how the final solutions actually turn out.
The new system is in use, but the work is far from finished. Right now, it's primarily about doing what TONO has always done, in a safe and correct way: Process data correctly, and make sure the money ends up where it's supposed to.