Cultural contributions, governance, member democracy and future direction have created great engagement among TONO's members. In this episode of Musikkskaperne you meet chairman Tom Hugo Hermansen and director Karl Vestli.
/ 03/07/2026 / Kristian DugstadIt has been an eventful early summer for TONO!
In the latest episode of The Music Makers Journalist Elin Ludvigsen meets TONO's newly elected chairman Tom Hugo Hermansen and CEO Karl Vestli for a conversation about the questions that have characterized the debate in recent weeks.
What exactly are cultural assets? Why have they become a topic for so many members? How should TONO safeguard both the breadth of Norwegian music life and the needs of music creators with different careers and working methods? These are among the questions discussed in the episode. (Editorial note: The episode was edited and re-posted on July 5th at 1:30 PM because it was mistakenly stated that Japan has cultural assets. It was not cut out before publication, and is of course something we regret.)
In parallel with the debate, TONO is in the midst of extensive development work. Vestli talks about the work on new systems, faster payments and international cooperation, while Hermansen shares his thoughts on how TONO can become an even stronger organization for various member groups in the years to come.
The investment in the TONO building will also be a topic. The conversation touches on the importance of bringing together parts of the music industry under one roof, and how TONO works to meet both criticism and expectations from its members.
In the wake of the debate, TONO's board has called an extraordinary annual meeting on September 1. There, members will vote on proposals regarding board composition, advance voting, and the distribution of cultural funds, among other things.
Listen to the episode wherever you listen to podcasts.
Cast:
The story was updated on July 5 at 6:55 p.m., when an editorial note was added stating that the episode was posted in an edited version on Sunday, July 5.
