Music Licensing in Norway: Complete Guide
Businesses in Norway playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from TONO and Gramo. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with TONO and Gramo — venues using it are not invoiced by these organisations.
Collecting Societies
Businesses in Norway require separate licences from TONO and Gramo. Both licences are required for full compliance.
- TONO — TONOcomposition
- Gramo — Gramoneighbouring
Streaming Service Legality in Norway
| Service | Legal for business use? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Spotify Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Apple Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | YouTube Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Amazon Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Tidal Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Deezer Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| SoundCloud | No | SoundCloud Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Royalty-Free Alternatives
Track Studios' AI-generated catalog is not registered with TONO and Gramo. Venues in Norway using Track Studios' included catalog are not invoiced by either organisation. The Track Studios subscription (€25/month per location) replaces all TONO and Gramo fees for the included music.
Start free trial — no TONO or Gramo invoicesRecent Change
2026-01-01: TONO and Gramo now issue a single joint invoice for background music licences. Previously required two separate contacts.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What collecting societies operate in Norway?
- Norway has 2 collecting societies: TONO and Gramo. Both licences are required for full compliance.
- Do businesses in Norway need a music licence?
- Yes. Any business in Norway playing recorded music in a public-facing space must hold a licence from TONO and Gramo. This applies regardless of what service you use to play the music — including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or internet radio. The only exception is using music that is not registered with these societies, such as Track Studios' AI-generated catalog.
- Can businesses in Norway use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Playing Spotify in a Norway business violates these terms and may also trigger claims from TONO and Gramo. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- How can a business in Norway avoid TONO and Gramo fees?
- Use music that is not registered with TONO and Gramo. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with TONO and Gramo — venues in Norway using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
- Has music licensing changed recently in Norway?
- Yes. As of 2026-01-01: TONO and Gramo now issue a single joint invoice for background music licences. Previously required two separate contacts.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-01