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DICE (ticketing company)

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DICE FM HOLDINGS LTD
DICE
Company typePrivate
IndustryMobile ticketing
Founded2013(2013)inLondon,United Kingdom
FoundersPhil Hutcheon
Headquarters,
Key people
Services
Number of employees
  • Steady122 (2017)
  • Increase360 (2021)
  • Increase480 (2022)
SubsidiariesBoiler Room
Websitedice.fm

DICEis aticketing software companybased inLondon, United Kingdom.[1]Itswebandmobile technologyproducts enable users (often referred to by the company asfans)[2]to search, browse and buy tickets to all kinds of live events, including concerts, festivals, comedy shows and other types ofperformancesortalks.DICE gained popularity as a ticketing app for its strong stance againstscalping,[3]implementing guardrails within its products to limit fraud[4]andprice gouging.[5]DICE also develops technology products for live show organisers and promoters for them to manage event marketing and better understand their audiences.

During the globalCOVID-19 pandemic,DICE temporarily pivoted as a live streaming service where fans could buy tickets to access private shows from artists likeKylie Minogue,Bicep,Lewis CapaldiorNick Cave.[6][7]DICE moved on to acquire live music broadcasterBoiler Roomin 2021.[8]

In September 2021, DICE completed its Series-C funding, raising $122 million withSoftBank Vision Fund,Nest co-founder andiPodinventorTony Fadellas well as French billionaire entrepreneurXavier Niel.Early investors includeDeepMindco-foundersMustafa SuleymanandDemis Hassabis,and software development studioUstwo.[9]

an image of the fan, a small black sticky figure with two googley eyes,
"The Fan", DICE's secondary logo and mascot

Founder

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Phil Hutcheon founded DICE in 2014. Prior to founding DICE, Hutcheon spent over 10 years working in the music industry runningModular Recordingsand latterly his own record label, management and events company Deadly People.[10][11]The company is based inDe Beauvoir,inDalston,Londonwith other offices inEuropeandNorth America.In September 2017, DICE launched into the United States with events inSan FranciscoandLos Angeles,California.[12]

Services

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Discovery feed

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Fans using the DICE app can search, browse and buy tickets in seconds for upcoming live shows.SpotifyandApple Musicintegrations allow fans to sync up their artist preferences for the app to suggest event recommendations on its homepage. DICE has built its own proprietary recommendation engine to power events being displayed on the each user's homepage, making DICE unique to every fan.

Secured mobile tickets

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Tickets are purchased within the app and exist on the user's smartphone as aQR codewhich also includes the date, time and location of the event. Depending on events, tickets can be either transferred to other users or resold through the waiting list feature. Unlike regular ticketing platforms, tickets bought on DICE need to be activated in-app prior to be scanned, this leads to QR codes only being displayed for a limited amount of time, right before the event start time and the ticket being scanned.

Waiting list and reselling system

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Customers can add themselves to a waiting list for sold-out shows. If users are no longer able to attend a show they can return their tickets to DICE; these tickets are then passed on those who have added themselves to the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis. As the ticket purchased exists only within the app, it is necessary to have it installed in order to be allowed entry to the relevant event.[13]

All tickets sold on DICE are sourced directly from labels, promoters and venues; the company does not participate in secondary ticketing.[14]

As of 2023, the DICE app is available inWestern Europe(United Kingdom,France,Spain,Portugal,Italy,Germany) as well asNorth America(United States). Some shows are occasionally available in other territories likeIndiaorAustralia.[15]The app is available in six languages.

DICE Live Awards

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Since 2016, DICE organises the DICE Live Awards, a ceremony awarding best live music act showcased on the platform.[16]

“The DICE Live Award is just about the artists. No dinner, no long speeches, no other awards… just an opportunity to recognise the brilliance of an artist who has truly broken through with amazing live performances. There’s nothing like it.Being a great artist isn't only about creating music in a studio, but also having the charisma and talent to deliver performances that people will remember for years to come.” -Phil Hutcheon (CEO) and Andrew Foggin (Global Head of Music), DICE

DICE Live Awards Wins and Nominations
Year Winner Nominated
2022 Self Esteem[17] Shygirl,Fred Again,GabrielsandObongjayar.
2021 Dave[18]
2019 Little Simz
2018 Loyle Carner
2017 Slowthai
2016 Wolf Alice[19]

Industry awards

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Awards granted to DICE
Year Organisation Award
2016 Music Week Best Ticketing Company
2015 Apple Inc. (App Store) App of the Year
2014 The Guardian Best App of the Year[20]

References

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  1. ^"DICE Wants To Be The First Gig Ticketing Giant That Music Fans Adore".TechCrunch.18 September 2014.Retrieved2021-09-28.
  2. ^"Our story and mission | About DICE".dice.fm.Retrieved2023-01-05.
  3. ^Deahl, Dani (2019-10-16)."Primavera Sound festival switches to mobile-only tickets to combat bots and scalping".The Verge.Retrieved2023-01-05.
  4. ^"SoftBank Backs Anti-Scalping Live Music Ticketing Platform, DICE With Funding".headlinermagazine.net.Retrieved2023-01-05.
  5. ^"After raising $122m, DICE buys livestreaming platform Boiler Room".Music Business Worldwide.2021-10-04.Retrieved2023-01-05.
  6. ^Hutcheon, Phil (2021-09-06)."20 things we've learned about music live streaming".DICE News.Retrieved2023-01-05.
  7. ^"DICE offers Aussie acts new direct-to-fan merchandise service".The Music Network.2021-03-09.Retrieved2023-01-05.
  8. ^"Boiler Room acquired by ticketing platform DICE".DJMag.2021-10-05.Retrieved2023-01-05.
  9. ^Lunden, Ingrid (27 September 2021)."London's Dice raises $122M at a $400M valuation for its intelligent event discovery and booking platform".TechCrunch.
  10. ^"The Entrepreneurs Episode 200".Monocle. 12 August 2015.Retrieved22 September2015.
  11. ^"Deadly".Resident Advisor.Retrieved22 September2015.
  12. ^"We're launching in the USA".DICE blog.Retrieved15 November2017.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^Dredge, Stuart (20 October 2014)."Dice gambles on shaking up gig tickets: 'We're getting rid of the friction'".Guardian.Retrieved22 September2015.
  14. ^Arjun, Kharpal (11 August 2015)."Google-backed ticket app looks to rival Ticketmaster".CNBC.Retrieved22 September2015.
  15. ^"Ticketing and livestream platform DICE launches in India".Music Business Worldwide.2020-10-28.Retrieved2021-09-14.
  16. ^"Self Esteem wins DICE Live Award 2022".Crack Magazine.2022-11-24.Retrieved2023-01-05.
  17. ^"Self Esteem wins DICE Live Award 2022".Crack Magazine.2022-11-24.Retrieved2023-01-05.
  18. ^"Dice hands its Live Award to Dave | Complete Music Update".Retrieved2023-01-05.
  19. ^Rédaction (2014-11-29)."WOLF ALICE gagne le DICE Live Award".Sensation Rock - Webzine français(in French).Retrieved2023-01-05.
  20. ^"Dice gambles on shaking up gig tickets: 'We're getting rid of the friction'".the Guardian.2014-10-20.Retrieved2023-01-05.
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