Summer greetings from Karl

Hello, all TONO members!

July and summer are just around the corner. Hopefully it will be a good time for you, whether you are going on vacation, working, playing concerts – or a little bit of everything. For most people, July is something different from everyday life. It gives us room to relax, think a little differently and get inspired. This spring, we at TONO have been working on several demanding and important issues, and now we are looking forward to a little breather.

Internally, the most important thing we do is to ensure simple and efficient licensing, and that members receive the right payment at the right time. On the technology side, we are therefore in the middle of a major restructuring. Several new solutions are in place in their first versions, including for works registration and settlement reports. At the same time, the introduction of a new settlement solution has been more demanding than planned. Unfortunately, this has led to delays in some of the settlement areas this year. We are of course not happy with that. This has also coincided with the transition to a new licensing partner in the online area, which has given us further challenges. We have had good contact with many of the members who are particularly affected. I can assure you that we are working intensively on this, and I am confident that we will come out on the other side with a far better and more efficient system.

Many have heard about the debate TONO has been involved in since the annual meeting. It has dealt with, among other things, the distribution of cultural contributions and the investment in Kongens gate 12. Although we experience some representations as unsubtle and partly incorrect, we have great respect for the concerns that have been raised. I believe that constructive criticism is something we must listen to and seek out. It makes it easier to see where there is room for change and development. It is healthy that it is discussed in a democratic member organization. It sharpens our skills. It is the members who are TONO.

The board has decided to call an extraordinary annual meeting on September 1, and is now working on adjusted proposals for changes to the statutes. The board wants involvement and input from the entire TONO community – from those who are at the beginning of their careers, to those who have been involved for a long time, and from all parts of the Norwegian music scene. A process is now being worked on to achieve this.

TONO is a collective. Our strength lies in the idea that we are stronger together – in licensing, in development and in the management of cultural heritage. We will preserve and strengthen this foundation together. Have a great summer!

Karl Vestli, CEO