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The musician gives twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to independent music venues

The artist receiving the award in Newcastle
He was awarded the honor last month in Newcastle

The star has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

He also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained financial assistance in improving amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The idea that funds from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.

Pulp members performing
The group are one example who gave their award winnings to charity

Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.

When they earned the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the band would donate their prize money to the organization the charity.

That year, artist she split her award between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

In recent years, they gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.

And winners that year M People donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory affected the lives of others."

Last week, the trust announced it had protected two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the properties.

AM
By

Andrew Moore

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering UK startups and digital transformation, passionate about emerging technologies.

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