– The new agreement with the Norwegian Local Radio Association means less administration and lower costs for TONO, while making it easier for local radio in Norway, says head of the media department at TONO, Kristin Haugan. (Photo: Bård Gudim)
Easier TONO everyday life for Norwegian local radio stations:
TONO and the Norwegian Local Radio Association have agreed on a new agreement for the use of music in Norwegian local radio stations. The new model applies to all local radio stations in Norway, and means, among other things, that local radio stations no longer need to document listenership figures.
/ 28/04/2026 / Willy MartinsenThe agreement was signed on Friday, April 17, after almost two years of negotiations between the parties.
– We have had good negotiations and are pleased to be able to launch a model that both entails significant simplification for the local radio industry and more efficient administration for TONO. The agreement provides reasonable payment to music creators, while local radio stations' TONO payments will be based on an objective and documented basis, says Kristin Haugan, head of the media department at TONO.
Since the late 90s, TONO's music hourly rate has been based on the population of each local radio station's broadcast area. The model was updated in 2018 so that local radio stations that could document significantly lower listening than the population base received a lower music hourly rate. The disadvantage was that it cost money to document actual listening.
TONO and the Norwegian Local Radio Association have therefore jointly analyzed actual radio listening based on Kantar's CATI listener surveys, and developed a model with a so-called degressive structure. Thus, an increase in the broadcasting area will no longer result in a proportional increase in the music hourly price. The music hourly price is based on Statistics Norway's population figures in the municipalities that are part of the licensing area, as defined by the Norwegian Media Authority and NKom.
– We are satisfied that we have found an objective basis for this solution in collaboration, which provides predictability for local radio stations, says Haugan.
The new model means that local radio stations no longer need to collect and document their own listenership figures. The Norwegian Local Radio Association also undertakes to assist TONO with obtain accurate information from its members.
– This means less administration and lower costs for TONO, while also making it easier for local radio Norway, says Haugan.
As part of the agreement, a new reporting process will also be introduced from 2027, where local radio stations will apply for a permit and submit the necessary information by December 31 of the previous year. Channels that submit complete and correct documentation by the deadline will receive a 15 percent discount on their fees. For 2026, the deadline has been temporarily moved to May 20.
The negotiations began in the fall of 2024 and have been characterized by mutual understanding and solution-oriented dialogue. There were many model proposals on the table before the Norwegian Local Radio Association proposed last fall to introduce an adjustment factor, which is the starting point for the degressive model that was eventually adopted.
– The Norwegian Local Radio Association has contributed valuable insight into the situation of local radio stations, and we also experience that the Norwegian Local Radio Association has gained a greater understanding of our members and of TONO's need for verifiable and objective criteria for licensing, says Haugan.
The Norwegian Local Radio Association is also satisfied with the agreement.
– The Norwegian Local Radio Association is pleased that the negotiations have progressed. The process has taken time, but it has been constructive. The local radio industry is changing, and we are pleased that the new model addresses several of the issues that have been important for local radio in the face of ongoing digitalization. The development of DAB has led to many local radio stations having an expanded coverage area, without necessarily resulting in increased listening or economic activity. This safeguards the new calculation models better than before. We look forward to closer cooperation with TONO on music royalties in the future, and believe this will be positive for both the rights holders and our members, says Aslak Sommerfelt Skretting, chairman of the Norwegian Local Radio Association.
TONO was founded in 1928 and is a non-profit cooperative owned and managed by composers, lyricists and music publishers. TONO manages the economic copyrights in their musical works and grants licenses for the public use of protected music for a fee. TONO's financial results are transferred to copyright holders in music that has been performed publicly in Norway and abroad. TONO has more than 44,000 members and also represents millions of international authors. In 2024, TONO paid out NOK 741,7 million to copyright holders at home and abroad.
Kristin Haugan, head of the media department at TONO, mobile 400 37 700, kristin.haugan@tono.no
Willy Martinsen, Communications Director at TONO, mobile 909 65 254, willy.martinsen@tono.no
Pål Lomeland, CEO of the Norwegian Local Radio Association, mobile 971 86 849, paal@lokalradio.no