From TONO's information meeting on new settlement principles on August 19, 2024. Former Communications Director Willy Martinsen, CEO Karl Vestli and Chairman Ole Henrik Antonsen. (Photo: Kristian Dugstad/TONO)
The information meeting about new settlement principles yesterday:
– We must adopt the new settlement principles to comply with Norwegian and European laws, but there is still room for maneuver for non-distributable and cultural funds, said chairman Ole Henrik Antonsen at TONO's information meeting yesterday. Next Wednesday, TONO's annual meeting will decide on the principles for how money should be settled.
/ 20/08/2024 / Willy MartinsenThe information meeting was held both physically at the Pop Center and digitally, and was a preparation for the extraordinary annual meeting on August 28, after the annual meeting in June did not adopt the proposal for new settlement principles that was presented there.
– TONO must comply with the Collective Management Act, the CRM Directive, CISAC regulations, and other agreements that have been entered into. This is about our reputation and continuing to be seen as a reliable and efficient management organization that follows national and international regulations and standards, said Antonsen.
The board adopts the settlement model, but it is up to the annual meeting to adopt general principles for the distribution of remuneration. Antonsen pointed out that the discussion before and during the annual meeting in June largely revolved around details of the settlement model rather than the principles.
– Since the annual meeting in June, the board and administration have worked to clarify both the principles and the difference between the principles and the settlement model, said the chairman.
Read more: “Tono board unanimously behind new settlement principles”
The new principles mean that funds must be settled as precisely as possible, and that income from an income area must be settled within the same area.
– After the last annual meeting, I received questions like “can’t TONO just move some money from NRK to the small concerts?”. That is precisely the type of action we cannot take. We may like it or not, but that is how it is. We still have room for manoeuvre within non-distributable and cultural funds. The principles allow for non-distributable funds to be used for cultural policy measures, and we are responsive to what the annual meeting and the members want, said Antonsen.
CEO Karl Vestli emphasized that the new principles are part of TONO's adaptation to the CRM Directive and the Act on Collective Management, and that work will continue in the future with adjustments to the distribution plan and articles of association.
– The changes lead to more precise and transparent billing, while continuing TONO's work for cultural diversity and musical innovation, said Vestli.
Head of TONO's settlement department, Elin Heer, showed how the five settlement principles meet the necessary requirements.
– The principles include distribution of remuneration, equal treatment, settlement based on actual use, representativeness and non-distributable funds. Although much is the same as before, there are also new elements, such as how background music money should be settled. Previously, we settled this at concerts and NRK, but now we must settle this in neighboring areas. If we lack reports, we can use a statistical basis or a representative reporting basis, where the board decides the basis, she said.
Unallocated funds are cases where TONO does not know who owns the work, or where the work is not documented.
– The money is held for three years, and if we don't find the right owner, we can use it for something else. We have room for maneuver there, and it will be the annual meeting that decides what it will be used for, said Heer.
Members who after TONO's statutes has voting rights in TONO received an invitation from TONO on August 14th to attend the extraordinary annual meeting. TONO encourages you to use your influence in the TONO democracy by participating, either physically at the Popsenteret at 18 pm on August 28th or digitally, if you prefer. Read more about attending the annual meeting here: “Members with voting rights have received an invitation to the extraordinary annual meeting”
If you have any questions about the annual meeting, please contact Helene Rognøy by calling TONO on 22 05 72 00 or by sending an email to helene.rognoy(a)tono.no.