Tono FAQ

If your music is played on the radio or television abroad, you do not need to report it to us, since this is handled under reciprocal administration contracts with our affiliated societies worldwide. However, you should note that many of TONO’s sister societies abroad use the so-called “sampling” method, which means that they receive playlists […]

YouTube applies systems that autimatically recognise recorded music, and make it possible to register metadata and connect an uploaded video to registered musical works. If you upload your own music video, it is important that you register the correct title, names of all rights holders, ISRC codes etc. Remember to register the work on your […]

The distribution of NRK’s radio channels is based on an a factor which relates to the audience numbers per channel, among other things. Additionally, the minute value per channel will be affected by the total amount of performed music minutes per channel and year, and the share of in-house productions per channel and year.

A performance is calculated as standard performance when the musical work is broadcast from a disc, audio file, music video, etc. A performance is in-house production when the work is performed in real time and/or to playback. It is further required that the broadcasting company has produced the transmission. For transmissions not produced by the […]

What are subsidised concerts? Subsidised concerts are concerts whose main repertoire TONO, for reasons of cultural policy, has decided to support with additional funds. These funds derive partly from unidentified works. This category includes concerts by orchestral companies, music associations, etc. A general criterion is that the performed repertoire is sheet music or similar works, […]

Here is an explanation of how the royalties payable for various types of concert are calculated. Licensed concerts First, we need to solve two separate equations: 1: Concert points (a) * the duration of the work (b) / the duration of the concert (c) = work points (d) 2: Work points (d) * point value […]

Please check this pdf document to see how the royalties payable in the various performance areas are calculated. (in Norwegian) TONOS AVREGNINGSMODELL

The Norwegian Copyright Act protects the creator’s intellectual property and financial rights and entitlements to the work. If you are concerned that your music may be plagiarised, you should make sure you are able to document the fact that you created the music first. One way to do this is to send the musical score […]

The creators of a work are free to agree upon a split which is then reported to TONO. If an agreed split is stipulated in the work notification submitted to TONO, that split will apply irrespective of the role the individual has played in the creation of the work. Please note that the work notification […]

Here you will find the CONCERT REPORT form in PDF format. You can either send it by mail or scan it and email it to [email protected]

The publisher must submit a so-called declaration of transfer, or financial authorisation, to TONO. This document must specify whether the advance relates to revenues from, for example, record sales, or whether it also applies to performing rights royalties. It must also state whether it is a general declaration of transfer or applies to only some […]

Here you will find the WORK NOTIFICATION FORM in PDF for original publishers. If the form relates to a sub-publisher, you must use THIS FORM (In Norwegian). You can send it by mail or scan it and email it to [email protected]

HERE you will find an application form in PDF for music publishers.

No. Creators and publishers are considered equal parties in TONO, and we cannot, on a general basis, provide any assistance with regard to agreements between them. However, we can explain what your contract will entail in relation to distributions by TONO/NCB.

Here you can download the WORK NOTIFICATION FORM in PDF for creators. You can send it by mail or scan it and email it to [email protected] Remember to sign the form before you return it to us!

If you are unable to submit the application form ELECTRONICALLY, you can download a PDF version HERE. The form must be completed, signed and returned to us by mail or, if you prefer, you may scan it and email it to [email protected]

With effect from January 2016, TONO has offered its members the opportunity to self-administer so called library music. Self-administration applies to the mechanical rights areas synchronisation and copying. This means that our members themselves can negotiate price with production companies that make use of libraries of musical works that are made specifically for film, television, […]

These channels broadcast from the UK and distributions are therefore calculated by our British affiliate PRS For Music. Any distributions due from these channels will be received via our international distribution arrangements.

No. As a rights holder, you do not need to report performances on radio and television to us. TONO receives detailed music reports directly from the radio and television channels, and these reports contain all the information necessary to calculate your royalty distributions.

When you use music together with images, a juxtaposition of sound and pictures occurs. This is called synchronisation. If, for example, you create a video clip with music that you publish on your website, or an online news outlet uses music in a video report, the rights must be cleared before the video is published. […]

If you want to make your music available online via a music service that offers digital streaming or downloading, you can contact an aggregator. The aggregator is a digital distributor, which supplies musical repertoire to the various online services in Norway and the rest of the world. It also acts as a link between you […]

If you are planning to release music in a physical format (e.g. CD/LP/DVD), you must contact NCB for clearance before going to press. This applies even if the release contains only your own music. See the tariffs, calculate what it will cost to release a record, and see other useful related information HERE (http://www.ncb.dk/index.php/recording-music/)   […]

Concert royalties are distributed once a year, in September. This distribution includes concerts held during the entire previous year (1 January to 31 December). If your works were performed in concert last year, your royalties will be distributed this year. If your works were performed in concert this year, your royalties will be distributed next […]

All new works that meet the criteria for first performance will automatically be given a special code when a work notification has been submitted and registered. This code is triggered the first time the work is chosen for performance, and the payment due is determined as part of a separate first performance distribution that takes […]

It is not possible to give an exact answer, since the value per minute varies on the various channels – even those belonging to the same broadcaster. The type of performance it relates to will also affect the distributable amount. Further details can be found here: https://www.tono.no/en/faq-items/what-is-the-difference-between-live-and-mechanical-performances-on-radio-and-television/ Only when all the performances for the distribution period […]

In this area, TONO has entered into a separate agreement with the Association of Norwegian Theatres and Orchestras (NTO), which obviates the need for TONO rights holders to negotiate directly for performances put on by NTO members. The agreement between NTO and TONO covers the right to perform and the right to receive royalties for […]

The expression “grand rights” is used in connection with performances of a dramatic musical work (e.g. an opera, operetta, musical, pantomime or ballet). The performance of originally written dramatico-musical works, or musical works performed on a stage in a dramatic context, are not subject to management by TONO. In principle, TONO does not manage grand […]

No. You must obtain the permission of the original rights holder if you want to create your own version of another creator’s work. However, such permission does not automatically imply that you, as an arranger or a translator, are entitled to a percentage of the royalties that TONO/NCB distributes. It must be clearly stated that […]

When you sign a management contract with TONO, you – as a creator of musical works – give TONO responsibility for managing your performance rights and mechanical rights. You are then bound to comply with the management contract and its prevailing regulations (s 2 and 5). In principle, you cannot accept that your own works […]

TONO/NCB give permission for the public performance and recording of copyright-protected musical works on behalf of their creators. However, please note that the first publication is reserved for the creators themselves, unless otherwise agreed. No particular permission is needed to perform or release a cover version of another creator’s work, as long as your version […]

If the work is protected, you must obtain the prior permission of the original work’s rights holders. TONO will be happy to help you find out whom you must contact in this respect. If the work is no longer protected by copyright, i.e. the original creator(s) have been dead for more than 70 years, you […]

According to Norwegian Copyright law, an artistic work is protected by copyright for 70 years after the year its creator(s) deceased. After this, the work becomes copyright free, which means that you are free to use the work without any special permission. For more information, please see the following (in Norwegian): https://lovdata.no/lov/1961-05-12-2  

No. TONO is not a judicial body and has no authority to adjudicate disputes between two parties in matters relating, for example, to plagiarism or similar copyright infringements. We must remain neutral with respect to disputes between rights holders, and disputes between publishers and creators, since we manage both parties’ financial rights and entitlements. This […]

No. In principle, you do not need to submit any documentation along with your work notification. TONO has a scheme, under which a random sample of works is routinely selected. Documentation for these works will be requested specifically. This scheme has been set up to ensure that reported works comply with the criteria stipulated in […]

Written consent is required to remove one or more rights holders from a work that is already registered with TONO. It is important to distinguish between performers and creators. Remember that you must register the actual rights holders, i.e. the people who have contributed to the creation of the music/lyrics, for each work. If one […]

The publisher can take no more than 33.33 per cent for a performance and no more than 50 per cent for a sound recording. However, it is normal for publishers to receive 33.33 per cent of both types of royalties. This applies in the original publishing territories, i.e. in territories where a sub-publishing agreement does […]

Contact The Norwegian Music Publisher Association. They will be able to help you. You can also apply for TONO membership for your publishing company by completing the application form found HERE. The following conditions apply to music publishers: The publishing company must have an agreement with at least one person who is the creator of […]

A music publisher can help a music creator to market and stage performances of their works through, for example, promotion and networking – often both at home in Norway and abroad. For more information, visit the website of THE NORWEGIAN MUSIC PUBLISHER ASSOCIATION.

TONO uses your work notifications as the basis for the calculation and distribution of royalties due to you. Before we can calculate and pay you for the public performance of your music, you must notify TONO of each of your works via our online services. You should submit your work notification no later than the […]

In the context of TONO, a “work” is a piece of music or a song. If you have played a part as composer, lyricist and/or arranger, you are a rights holder of the work

No. According to the Norwegian Tax Assessment Act, “fees or other remunerations paid to the creator of an artistic work” are reportable, but TONO has no duty to make deductions at source. This means that TONO can pay out the royalties due to rights holders without deducting income tax at source. However, TONO is obliged […]

TONO collects and distributes royalties to composers, lyricists and music publishers for public performances and broadcast works. Gramo does the same for recorded music, but on behalf of the performers and record companies. In principle, these are different professional groups, whose rights are safeguarded by different copyright law provisions. If you are a performer who […]

TONO manages your financial rights in connection with the public performance of your musical works. This means that TONO ensures that you get paid as a rights holder when your works are played at concerts and on radio and television. NCB manages your financial rights in connection with the sound recording of your musical works […]

If you want to record a piece of music or make an audio-visual production containing music, you must first obtain a licence to do so from NCB (Nordic Copyright Bureau). NCB issues this licence on behalf of composers, lyricists and music publishers that own the rights to the music, and you must therefore contact them […]

It costs nothing to join TONO, nor be a member of TONO. We collect and distribute royalties on a non-profit basis, and deduct an annual administration percentage of approximately 15 % from TONO’s revenues before any distributions are paid out.

When you sign a management agreement with TONO, TONO/NCB will, on your behalf, manage your financial rights and entitlements in connection with public performances and sound recordings of your music. TONO makes sure that you are paid when your music is used in public (concerts, radio/TV, etc.), through agreements with the different music users who […]