REMA 1000 in the Korskirkekvartalet in Bergen won the competition "Norway's best background music". Former Communications Director at TONO Willy Martinsen, General Manager of the store John-Andre Flåm and artist and songwriter Synne Sørgjerd. (Photo: Erik Huynh)
On Thursday, November 13, customers at REMA 1000 in the Korskirkekvartalet district in Bergen were treated to a shopping experience they will never forget. TONO offered a free concert with songwriter and artist Synne Sørgjerd.
/ 25/11/2025 / Willy Martinsen– I just came from playing for a packed Parkteater, but this is much more fun, Synne Sørgjerd told NRK, who was present to cover the event.
Shortly before, busy REMA customers had stopped by and enjoyed the mini-concert, where Sørgjerd performed 4 of her own songs acoustically – sitting on the shopping counter.
But why the TONO concert at Rema 1000?
Well, songwriters, composers, lyricists and music publishers trust TONO to do what we can to ensure they receive fair payment when their music is used. But this work doesn't "do itself."
The actual licensing, handling of data and money and payments is one thing. But TONO also has to constantly remind cafes, shops, hairdressers, gyms and so on across the country that TONO's repertoire is the music that really provides value.
– We have therefore organized the competition this autumn «Norway's best background music», and asked people to nominate places that excel. We wanted to celebrate the places that play the great music that TONO represents, says Willy Martinsen, who is responsible for TONO's communications work.
– Of the 112 nominations we received, the jury finally settled on this REMA 1000 store in the Korskirkekvartalet in Bergen. There were several nominations here, and the jury also thought it was fun that a grocery store plays music. It is a bit unusual in Norway, although research shows that the right music increases sales. Hopefully, more stores will be inspired to start playing the music that TONO offers, says Martinsen.
John-Andre Flåm, general manager of the REMA store in the Korskirkekvartalet district, thought it was very nice that his store won the competition.
– Yes, it was incredibly cool. I was a little surprised. And the prize itself was fantastic, it was really nice to hear Synne sing. We've never had a concert from the box office in Rema before, but it was really fun, he says.
NRK's report was shown on Vestlandsnytt and Dagsrevyen in addition to nrk.no, it was featured in Bergensavisen, the student radio in Bergen and the industry media outlet Dagligvarehandelen.
The REMA boss himself, Ole Robert Reitan, thought it was so funny that a REMA store won "The Country's Best Background Music" that he posted about it on Facebook.
Earlier this fall, media outlets across the country featured various places that had been nominated.
The award is based on 112 nominations from all over the country, with a large geographical range – from Kautokeino in the north to Stavanger in the south. The jury has emphasized the public's justifications, and REMA 1000 Korskirkekvartalet distinguished itself because they use music to improve customer experiences in an industry where background music has not previously been so common. In the nominations for the REMA store that won, people wrote, among other things:
"Never been to a grocery store that plays music. Wide range of music played. It seems like they adjust the music to what day and what time of day it is. Obviously music-loving people 😆»
"Always good music playing when I'm in there shopping."
"Cool and varied world-class music."
The jury consisted of artist and songwriter Synne Sørgjerd, influencer Gard Øksendal ("Mankegard") and employees from TONO.
See all nominees here www.tono.no/bakgrunn.