BRIT awards signal the UK’s return to live
BRIT awards signal the UK’s return to live
DICE, the global music discovery platform, looks at the impact of music throughout the pandemic and the UK’s ‘return to live’
This week, the BRIT awards are returning to London for the O2’s first show in over a year as part of the government’s Event Research Programme. With an audience of 4,000 frontline and key workers who will not be subject to social distancing measures or masks, the awards show signals an empathetic step towards the UK’s ‘return to live’. The show will be featuring performances from artists from Dua Lipa to Rag’N’Bone Man & Pink with the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS choir, and will be crucial in providing scientific evidence for bringing back live events after more than a year in lockdown and Covid restrictions.
New research from music discovery and global ticketing platform, DICE, has shown that 24% of Brits agree that the number one thing they are looking forward to as lockdown ends is attending gigs and festivals. With the scale at which we are seeing the BRITs go ahead this week, the prayers of these fans may be answered very soon. However, while fans are more keen than ever to ‘return to live’, the way we consume music has changed forever with live streaming solidifying itself in the culture of events as companies continue to invest in live streaming platforms as we leave lockdown.
With Sony having invested £195 million in Fortnite owner, Epic Games, following Travis Scott’s resounding success with his live streamed in-game concert, live streaming for music and events will continue in parallel to traditional live events as opposed to acting as a substitute. Indeed, with the Music Venue Trust predicting over 4,000 events across 400 venues when lockdown comes to an end, we are seeing almost two years of backed up tours.
As such, artists will continue to utilise live streaming in parallel with their ‘live’ shows in order to access hundreds of millions of fans in countries where their fan bases are not as established, meaning the economics to tour don’t add up. Music events and festivals are shifting to develop similarities with sporting events post-pandemic. Fans all over the world are increasingly able to access these events live, as many of us have craved, or watch on their TVs if they are unable to make it due to geographic restrictions.
DICE, the global music discovery and ticketing platform, has been at the forefront of the industry in their seamless adaptation to the pandemic, offering high quality virtual events and live streams, supporting artists while they cannot tour. These live streamed events allow fans to connect and build on their emotionally charged relationships with their favourite artists during Covid-19, and maintained tours, festivals, and gigs from the comfort of fans’ homes over the last year. With DICE having seen resounding success, predictions are that live streams will occur in parallel with traditional, live events, changing the nature of events and the music industry forever.
Phil Hutcheon, DICE CEO would also been keen to discuss:
– What the BRITs at the O2 for the Event Research Programme means for our return to live and the role of live streams as restrictions ease
– How DICE has supported events throughout lockdown, and will continue to do so with live streams and ‘traditional’ live events as the UK leaves lockdown
– How live streaming has become a vital coping mechanism and source of entertainment for fans throughout lockdown
– The integral role live streaming has served to support artists while they cannot tour
– The evolution of artist and fan relationships throughout Covid-19
– The sense of loneliness fans have felt through not having access to gigs and how live streaming has fostered a sense of community
– The future of venues and events as they adapt to our digital era
About Personalised Live Streams
DICE live streams connect fans to personalised live streams, ranging from streamed gigs, festivals and DJ sets, in addition to an array of online arts, culture and lifestyle events. Utilising DICE’s popular Discovery algorithm that learns what each fan loves, DICE live streams will recommend upcoming shows specially for them.
Fans can buy tickets in seconds to shows they love. They can also invite and share with friends, to support their favourite artists, venues, and shows.
Artists, venues, promoters and creators can use DICE live streams to connect directly with fans, reach huge new audiences through Discovery, ticket their shows and grow their fanbase globally. When live events come back, they’ll be able to bring those who watched remotely together in real life.
ABOUT DICE:
Founded in London in 2014, DICE has transformed how fans discover and buy tickets to live events and live streams all over the world. From A$AP Rocky to BICEP, Nick Cave to Primavera Sound Festival, from the up-and-coming to the world’s biggest acts, we work with major artists, leading promoters, and renowned venues worldwide. In addition to a respected music offering, DICE offers fans an array of arts, culture, and life style events. The app is highly personalized for each fan with a ‘Discover’ feature that recommends upcoming gigs and events just for them. Mobile-first, the app stops scalpers and protects fans. DICE is live in the U.K., U.S., France, Italy, Spain, India, and Australia – and accessible to fans globally through its live stream offering.