On Monday, September 29, TONO will pay out NOK 206,2 million to licensees at home and abroad. The payment also marks the start of a new and more precise settlement model, which has now been implemented in most areas.
/ 29/09/2025 / Willy MartinsenOf this amount, NOK 119,2 million goes to TONO members, while NOK 83 million goes to sister societies in other countries. NOK 3,9 million is withheld for unidentified or disputed rights.
This year's autumn payment is lower than last year's record high of NOK 238 million. The decrease from last year, which is a total of 13,5 percent, is due to the transition to a new settlement model. This means that a lot of money from the background music area that would normally be settled now in September must be postponed until 2026. We are also waiting for delayed payments from Germany and France, where the delays are due to tax conditions in these countries.
The September payment is the first to be made under TONO's new settlement model. The model follows the requirements of the Collective Management Act and means that different types of music use – such as concerts, radio, TV and background music – will be paid separately to the greatest extent possible, based on their own income and data. It is intended to provide more accurate and fair payments to those who create and own the music.
The model was adopted by TONO's board in 2024, and was originally to be introduced gradually until 2028, but after a legal assessment and a new technical review, TONO's board has decided to accelerate the introduction. The changes will therefore come into effect as of the September 2025 payment, in all areas where it is technically possible. Other remaining introductions will be introduced as quickly as possible. TONO members have today been sent a settlement letter describing the changes.
Among the largest areas in this autumn payment are concerts (NOK 50,8 million to TONO members, down from NOK 77,6 million last year), music streaming (NOK 29,9 million to TONO members, up from NOK 19,6 million last year), as well as payments from TV and radio.
With the introduction of the new model, different types of music use, such as concerts, radio, TV and streaming, will be paid separately to the greatest extent possible, based on their own revenues and data, and without the addition of settlement funds from the background music area and unallocated funds, as before. This also means that schemes such as subsidized pools and premiere performances have been discontinued, and that TONO will no longer contribute additional funds to the compensation from the Ministry of Culture for performances in church services.
Among TONO's members receiving payments this time, there are 5285 women, 21548 men and 262 with unknown gender (including deceased members, pseudonyms and members without complete registration).
For questions from members, contact the membership department at medlem@tono.no or 22 05 72 80.
Willy Martinsen, Communications Director at TONO
willy.martinsen@tono.no, mob. +47,909 65,254