Many congregations do not report to TONO. This is reported by the newspaper Vårt land i dag. Praise song composer and TONO member Vetle Jarandsen takes matters into his own hands. – Important spotlight, says TONO.
/ 10/06/2021 / Kristian DugstadIn the newspaper Vårt Land you can read about worship song composer and TONO member Vetle Jarandsen, who himself reports to TONO when his music is used by congregations – despite the fact that this is the congregations' statutory duty.
– I report my own music because many people don't do that job, he says in the case Many congregations do not report to Tono – Vetle takes matters into his own hands (paywall) in Our Country today.
When his music is used in ceremonies at the Philadelphia Church, where he works, he ensures that his own works are reported to TONO.
– It is not primarily for my own sake, but because it is something I am passionate about. I fear that if we do not report more, the state will shrink the money bag that is set aside for churches – simply because there is apparently no need for it, he tells journalist Elias Bakken Johansen.
Section 40 of the Copyright Act states that protected musical works may be performed free of charge in religious ceremonies. TONO does not charge any fees from congregations for this use of music.
In order for the authors who have created the music to still receive fair remuneration, the Ministry of Culture transfers a sum to TONO annually. In 2020, this was NOK 2,330,000. This money is distributed based on reports from congregations and other religious communities and non-religious views.
Therefore, communities covered by the exemption are still required by law to report the music they use in their ceremonies.
– We are pleased that Vårt Land is highlighting this important topic. TONO depends on reports to ensure that music creators are paid correctly. We encourage all congregations to report the music they use.
Willy Martinsen
However, Vårt Land reports that recent findings in a master's thesis written by Andreas Melands at the University of Agder show that only one in three Norwegian free churches does this legally required work. Among those who do not report, 76 percent still say they are aware of Tono and the reporting scheme.
Vårt Land can report that the Pentecostal congregation Betesda Borgestad in Skien is one of the congregations that does not report its music use to TONO. Pastor Frank O. Holmberg states that he has not been aware of the legally required reporting, and concludes that TONO has information work to do.
– We do a lot to increase knowledge about Tono. We are direct contact with tens of thousands of companies
annually, we have our own editorial production, we create podcasts, videos, we hold dozens of
lectures annually, to name a few, communications manager Willy Martinsen tells the newspaper.
This week, TONO is collecting contact information for Norwegian religious and church communities,
and their editorial teams. Starting next week, TONO will contact them with information about why and how they report.
– A lot is being done, and we will become even better. We recently launched a digital reporting solution. Information work towards congregations is an important focus area for us now in 2021, not least because from January 2022 we will no longer accept reports on paper, Martinsen tells Vårt Land.
– We are pleased that Vårt Land is highlighting this important topic. TONO depends on reports to ensure that music creators are paid correctly. We encourage all congregations to report the music they use.