Photo: Aloha Peace
“Meet the Authors”:
TONO brought film composer Peter Baden to a copyright forum with EU politicians. “It is crucial for Norwegian music creators that their voice is heard where the framework conditions are created,” says Inger Elise Mey at TONO.
/ 04/02/2025 / Kristian Dugstad
How do artificial intelligence and “buyout” contracts affect composers’ rights and financial future?
This was among the topics on the agenda when TONO traveled to the EU Parliament in Brussels last week during a discussion forum on copyright.
GESAC, TONO's European lobby organization, is the initiator behind the event "Meet the Authors" which took place in the EU capital on Wednesday, January 29. A large number of music creators and authors from all over Europe gathered to meet over 40 EU parliamentarians and representatives from the European Commission.
Among the invitees were Inger Elise Mey, director of TONO's international department, and TONO member and film composer Peter Baden, who is behind the music for a number of film, television and stage productions, including Netflix, BBC and NRK.
The rapid development of artificial intelligence continues to be a dominant theme in the music industry, and last week's meeting in Brussels was no exception.
AI offers exciting opportunities in creative processes and is already a frequently used tool. At the same time, it brings with it major legal challenges.
“A major concern among music creators is how generative AI models use copyrighted material without consent or compensation. This could have major consequences for their revenue base,” says Inger Elise Mey.
– AI companies must be forced to be open about what copyrighted material has been used in the development of their models, so that companies like TONO can find good models for licensing both the training basis and the output the services generate.
Artificial intelligence is far from the only challenge in a music creator's everyday life.
When film composer Peter Baden spoke to EU politicians, he emphasized the already established challenge of buyout contracts in the film and television industry.
More and more composers are faced with agreements where they effectively sell their rights to the production company for a lump sum. If they decline, the assignment goes to someone else.
In his presentation, Baden explained how these agreements lead to an unequal distribution of income, where large production companies retain the financial dividends and future royalties, while composers and music creators are not allowed to share in the profits of the successes they help create.
Not only does this weaken the economic sustainability of artists, but it can also threaten cultural diversity and the fair distribution of remuneration.
Norwegian music creators work in a digital and global industry where the framework conditions they must operate in are often created beyond national borders.
– It is central for TONO to be present internationally in order to promote the interests of Norwegian artists in political arenas where Norway, as a non-member of the EU, has limited opportunities to influence. Through meetings like “Meet the Authors”, Norwegian authors are given a valuable opportunity to be heard and to influence legislative processes that can have a direct impact on their working conditions, says Mey.
As head of TONO's international department, Inger Elise Mey plays a key role in our international relations work. Two weeks ago, she was TONO's representative when 13 of our European sister societies met to discuss international cooperation during the Eurosonic festival in the Netherlands.
In other words, last week's visit to Brussels is part of a larger international effort to ensure that our members' voices are heard. It is crucial to creating good and fair conditions for composers and songwriters across Europe.
