The artist performed only their own songs, do we still have to pay TONO?

Yes, the performer’s fee never covers the consideration due to the songwriter, which must be paid through TONO. The performer is paid to perform, but the organiser also makes use of the songwriter’s rights, and it is for the use of these rights that TONO is paid. In other words, the two payments are for completely different things (the performance and the underlying music).

A report must be submitted, and consideration paid for every concert, irrespective of the kind of music performed – whether Norwegian or non-Norwegian, the artist’s own songs or cover versions of music written by someone else.

TONO FAQ

For customers

Do I have to have a TONO licence to upload private videos from, for example, weddings, birthday parties or school dances to Facebook/YouTube?

No. TONO has agreements with both Facebook and YouTube that cover this kind of use. It is important to note that this applies to private individuals, not organisations, companies, choirs,...

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What is geo-blocking?

Geo-blocking means you can choose to allow your video production to be viewed only in certain territories, such as the Nordic region. Limiting the territory in which a video may...

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Why do Facebook/YouTube remove the sound from videos when music is playing?

Probably because Facebook/YouTube find an unlicensed production. In other words, the recording has not been cleared with the owner of the recording used (record company/artist) or TONO. It is therefore...

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I want to livestream a concert on Facebook/YouTube. What types of licences do I need?

If you are livestreaming a concert, you do not need to get a synchronisation licence from TONO. In connection with the simultaneous and unedited streaming of a concert (with no...

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What types of productions does NCB license?

NCB licenses TV productions, TV drama shows (broadcast in the Nordic region), documentaries without cinema distribution and short films without cinema distribution, created by professional audio-visual producers. NCB also licenses...

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I am a visual artist and want to use some music in a video installation for publication online. Who licences this?

For such productions, TONO licenses both the synchronisation and performance rights. Please note that if recorded music is used in such productions, the recording rights must be cleared with the...

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I want to use some music in a film about a company / a training video for new employees. The video will be published on the company’s intranet. Who licenses this?

For productions intended for internal viewing, TONO licenses both the synchronisation and performance rights. Please note that if recorded music is used in such productions, the recording rights must be...

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I want to use some music in a video about the work of a non-profit organisation. Who licenses this?

For video productions presenting the work of a non-profit organisation, the recording rights must be cleared with the record company and the synchronisation rights with the music publisher, while the...

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I want to use some music in a film about a company Who licenses this?

For video productions presenting your company, the recording rights must be cleared with the record company and synchronisation rights with the music publisher, while the performance rights must be cleared...

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I want to use some music in an advertising commercial. Who licenses this?

For those video productions featuring musical works, whose object is to promote a product or service (whether commercial or non-commercial) in order to boost sales, the recording rights must be...

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I don’t know which song was playing in the background while I recorded my video. Does the music have to be cleared?

If the music is recognisable, the recording rights must be cleared with the record company, and the performance and synchronisation rights must be cleared with TONO.

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How do I credit the originators when I use musical works in a video production?

Music used in a video production can be credited in the final credits. The following information must be included: The name of the musical work. The names of the originators....

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We don’t play background music in our shop, but we do play music when we are demonstrating sound systems and speakers. Do we have to have an agreement with TONO?

Yes. All public use of music requires an agreement with TONO, regardless of how the music is played or the amount of music used. You will find a price list...

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Which services/media can a company or organisation use to play music for customers or guests?

The TONO agreement gives customers complete liberty to play what they want – radio, streaming services, TV, CDs, etc. If you are thinking of purchasing a streaming subscription for companies,...

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Can a company use a private streaming subscription to play music for customers or guests?

No. When you take out a private subscription with a streaming service, you accept a number of terms and conditions. All the major streaming services state that their service is...

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I have not used any Norwegian music, do I still have to pay the TONO charge?

TONO does not charge a fee on its own account. Instead, TONO collects what music users owe to the music’s creators for the use of their intellectual property. By means...

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The performer has received all the ticket revenues (“door deal”). As the organiser, do we still have to pay the TONO charge?

Yes. The law states that it is the person or entity that makes the music available for public consumption who must have permission to use it – and therefore pay...

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The artist performed only their own songs, do we still have to pay TONO?

Yes, the performer’s fee never covers the consideration due to the songwriter, which must be paid through TONO. The performer is paid to perform, but the organiser also makes use...

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We already pay the performing artist, why do we have to pay TONO as well?

The artist’s fee does not cover the consideration payable to the songwriters, who subsequently receive their rightful due from TONO. The performer and songwriter have two separate roles, two different...

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Who pays the TONO charge?

The person or entity responsible for the musical performance must obtain TONO’s permission in advance and pay the appropriate consideration. This applies to the performance of both Norwegian and non-Norwegian...

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What are recording rights?

By “recording rights”, we mean ownership of a specific recording of a work. Sometimes, the terms “master rights” or “master owner” are also used. The recording is often owned by...

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Do I have to have an agreement with both TONO and Gramo?

All public use of music, whether recorded or performed live, requires an agreement with TONO. If you use recorded music, such as CDs, streaming, radio or TV broadcasts, you also...

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What is the difference between TONO and Gramo?

TONO and Gramo manage different music-related rights. TONO represents composers, lyricists, songwriters and music publishers, and manages the economic rights associated with their work. By work, we mean the actual...

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What is TONO?

TONO is a cooperative society that manages the rights of composers, lyricists, songwriters and music publishers worldwide. We license the public use of music on behalf of rights holders, and...

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What is copyright?

Copyright protects everyone who creates works of music and other intellectual property, and is the foundation for TONO’s activities. In Norway, copyright is established in law via the Copyright Act....

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