From the new year, 4500 teams and associations will be without a collective agreement, and must apply for concert permits, report and pay fees themselves. Here you can read why – and what you must do in 2024.
/ 14/12/2023 / Kristian DugstadIn September, the Norwegian Music Council and TONO announced that we were unable to agree on a new collective framework agreement for the 4500 choirs and bands organized under them. We would like to have a collective framework agreement from the new year as well. It is the best and easiest thing for both choirs, bands, big bands and orchestras, for the associations that organize them – and for TONO.
The reason we could not continue the previous agreement was that it did not provide the fair remuneration that composers and lyricists should have for the use of their musical works. At the same time, we must ensure equal treatment of concert organizers under the Collective Management of Copyright Act, which was also a contributing factor.
According to the Copyright Act § 3, all concert organizers must have the composers' and lyricists' permission. TONO provides this on behalf of 40,000 Norwegian composers and lyricists and several million from other countries. TONO is a cooperative owned and managed by Norwegian composers, lyricists and music publishers. Previously, the permission was given collectively to all choirs, bands etc. under NMR through our agreement with them. In the absence of such an agreement, everyone must deal individually and directly with TONO as ordinary concert organizers.
The change means that those of you who represent choirs, bands, big bands, etc. must apply to TONO for the composers' and lyricists' permission to hold concerts before every single concert eventAs before, you must also report which works have been performed at the concerts within 10 days of the event.
Based on the reports you must send to TONO after the concerts, TONO will invoice you directly for compensation. The payment will be important TONO income for the composers and lyricists who have written the musical works you have performed.
The TONO fee for the smallest concerts in 2023 is kr 755, but will be index-adjusted from 1 January, and is expected to end up at approx. 800 kroner. For the larger concerts, the fee is calculated based on a percentage of gross ticket sales or the number of audiences. Free concerts also require permission and payment of a fee. Read more about TONO's prices and terms here: https://www.tono.no/kunder/konsert-event/ (The tariffs will, as mentioned above, be index-adjusted from January 1)
TONO is now launching a new digital web portal that will be used to apply for the necessary TONO permit and to report performed works, ticket revenues, number of audiences, etc. User guides for this portal have now been published. The video and text guides can be found here here..
You can already create a user and use the portal to apply for permits for concerts taking place in 2024.
Questions can be directed to TONO by email to marked@tono.no or via telephone 22 05 72 00.