Norsk Komponistforenings Internasjonale Musikkbyrå

TONO is Norway's performing rights organization, founded in 1928 and headquartered in Oslo. It is a non-profit cooperative owned and controlled by composers, lyricists, and music publishers. TONO manages performing rights for musical works in Norway, licensing public use of music and distributing royalties to over 45,000 Norwegian members and millions of international authors through reciprocal agreements with sister societies worldwide.

How TONO Works

TONO issues blanket licenses to radio stations, television networks, streaming services, concert venues, cinemas, restaurants, retail stores, and any business that plays music publicly in Norway. License fees are collected and distributed to rights holders based on usage data from broadcast logs, streaming reports, concert set lists, and background music reporting.

In 2025, TONO achieved record-high gross revenues of NOK 1,109,784,015 (approximately USD 100 million), up 9.1% from 2024. The distributable profit reached NOK 928.7 million. TONO paid NOK 335 million to Norwegian rights holders and NOK 379.8 million to foreign rights holders. The cost percentage was 14.47%.

Streaming of films and music generated NOK 342 million in 2025, up NOK 55 million from 2024. Broadcasting on radio and television generated NOK 367 million, up NOK 15 million. Public performances at cinemas, concerts, and background music venues generated NOK 271 million combined, up NOK 24 million. Concert revenue alone reached NOK 157 million, up NOK 15 million from 2024. Background music revenue increased NOK 8 million to NOK 104 million.

International revenues from sister societies and direct streaming licensing totaled NOK 130.9 million, roughly stable compared to NOK 131.2 million in 2024. TONO distributed NOK 59.9 million in cultural funds in 2025, including NOK 16.5 million through the TONO grant program.

In 2025, TONO introduced a new settlement model that more directly reflects what music Norwegians actually listen to. TONO also coordinated background music services with Gramo (the neighboring rights organization) starting September 2025, giving over 16,000 Norwegian businesses a single point of contact and joint invoice for both organizations.

TONO was founded under the name Norsk Komponistforenings Internasjonale Musikkbyrå. Norway has ratified the Berne Convention, and its provisions are implemented in Norwegian law through the Copyright Act. Mechanical rights are administered by NCB (Nordisk Copyright Bureau), not TONO directly.

Real-World Example

A Norwegian songwriter joins TONO and registers 20 songs. An Oslo radio station plays 10 of those songs in regular rotation, a streaming service reports 1.5 million streams, and a Bergen concert venue features 5 songs in its set list.

TONO collects royalties from all three sources. Streaming royalties (the largest growth category at NOK 342 million across all distributions) are allocated based on stream counts. Radio royalties are allocated based on airplay logs. Concert royalties are allocated based on the set list submitted by the concert organizer.

If the same songs are played on streaming platforms in Sweden, TONO's reciprocal agreement with STIM means STIM collects those royalties and remits them to TONO, which distributes them to the songwriter in the next distribution cycle.

With TONO's 14.47% cost percentage, if NOK 10,000 in royalties is collected for a songwriter's works, approximately NOK 8,553 is paid to the writer and publisher (split according to registered shares) and NOK 1,447 covers administrative costs. A Norwegian songwriter with 40 songs receiving regular airplay and significant streaming activity might earn anywhere from NOK 20,000 to NOK 500,000 or more annually, depending on usage scale.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Norwegian songwriter, composer, lyricist, or publisher, TONO is the primary organization for collecting performing rights royalties in Norway. Membership is open to creators and publishers. You can only belong to one Norwegian PRO at a time for the same catalog of works.

Register every composition with TONO before commercial release. Unregistered works earn zero royalties, even if they receive millions of streams or extensive radio airplay. Submit accurate metadata including ISRC codes, ISWC numbers, and split sheets to ensure proper matching and payment.

TONO does not handle mechanical rights. The Nordic Copyright Bureau (NCB) administers mechanical and reproduction rights for the Nordic region. If you release music physically or digitally in Norway, contact NCB separately for mechanical licensing.

The 2025 coordination between TONO and Gramo simplifies licensing for businesses using background music. This means more venues are properly licensed, which increases the royalty pool for background music performances. Ensure your works are registered so you receive your share of this growing revenue stream.

TONO's cultural fund distributions of NOK 59.9 million in 2025 provide grants for music projects in Norway. As a member, you may be eligible to apply for funding through the TONO grant program. Check TONO's website for application deadlines and eligibility criteria.

If your music is played internationally, TONO's reciprocal agreements with sister societies mean those royalties flow back to you. Register your works so international performances are tracked and royalties are collected.

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Mechanical Royalties - How mechanical royalties differ from performance royalties
• Blanket License - The licensing model used by TONO
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• TONO Official Website - Visit TONO for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings