State Secretary Trude Storheim (AP) in the Ministry of Culture and Equality and CEO of TONO Karl Vestli at the celebration "We are the land of music". The event was held on Friday, November 14, where a united music community submitted its input to the government. (Photo: Tobias Myklebust Fjeldheim)
TONO's input to NOU 2025:7
What should the government do to make the music field flourish, as both a culture and an industry? TONO addresses topics such as AI, copyright, VAT, Sami music and the Norwegian Composers' Fund in its contribution to the report "The Land of Music".
/ 18/11/2025 / Willy MartinsenThe public inquiry Music Country paints a broad and rich picture of the Norwegian music field, and proposes measures to govern the area. TONO supports the main lines of the report, but nevertheless points to a number of issues that are crucial to ensuring good conditions for music creators, for the good of the industry as a whole.
– With their musical works, music creators are the fundamental contributors to the entire industry. Action must be taken to strengthen the position of music creators and create good business conditions. Here, regulation of AI, a strong copyright, good frameworks for collective management of music rights and an investigation of VAT in the music field are among the central topics we address in the contribution, says CEO of TONO, Karl Vestli.
TONO points out in its submission that AI is dramatically changing how music is used and valued. When AI companies train their models on copyrighted music without consent, the foundation of the Norwegian music economy is weakened. TONO therefore recommends a national policy for AI and intellectual property that is based on three principles: consent before use, payment upon exploitation and transparency about what is used.
Growth in the music industry must be built on a solid foundation through rights remaining, and being managed collectively, in Norway. Framework conditions must therefore be created that make it profitable to create and run a business here. TONO therefore supports Music Country-the committee's proposal to examine the value-added tax in the music field. TONO believes that a low, or zero, rate will strengthen professionalization and growth in the industry, for the good of the entire music field.
Furthermore, TONO emphasizes that we want a continuation of the Norwegian Composers' Fund, but that we want a dialogue about the fund's financing. Today, the money comes from a deduction of 2 percent of TONO's income. At the same time, the law is being broken by foreign actors licensing certain concerts themselves without paying to the fund, without consequences from the authorities.
TONO also points to several other important elements to strengthen the music industry. This includes clearer licensing responsibilities for gaming platforms, to ensure that authors are paid when their music is used in games and streaming services. Furthermore, the need for good public support schemes for concert organizers is emphasized, and TONO supports Musikklandet's proposal to establish a state fund for Sami music and joik, and suggests that the protection of rights for traditional expressions be anchored in legislation. TONO also supports the establishment of a state compensation scheme for other traditional musical expressions.
Read TONO's input to NOU 2025:7 "The Land of Music" (PDF)
Also read previous entries this fall:
TONO's input to the KI Regulation (October 30, 2025)
TONO's input to the Culture Committee on the 2026 state budget (October 28, 2025)
TONO's input to the Business Committee on the 2026 State Budget (October 21, 2025)