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The musician donates twenty-five thousand pounds cash award to grassroots concert halls

The artist receiving his trophy in the North East
He received the Mercury Prize in October in the North East

The star has given the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the MVT, which works to save the Britain's small live music spots.

Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the best record of the previous year.

He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.

He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported venues that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

Pulp on stage
Pulp are one example who donated their honor winnings to good causes

The musician is among several artists to donate his award prize money to worthy causes.

In the band received the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer stated that the band would contribute their winnings to the organization the charity.

That year, musician she shared her prize between several organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.

Previously, they gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the other in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the buildings.

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Karen Andrews

A digital media strategist with over a decade of experience in streaming technology and content delivery optimization.

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