The artist contributes twenty-five thousand pounds cash award to independent music venues

The artist receiving Mercury Prize in the North East
He was awarded the honor recently in his hometown

The artist has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the top album of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

These funds supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that funds from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

The band Pulp performing
The group are one of the many acts who donated their award prize money to non-profits

Fender is among several artists to give his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when they received the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.

During 2002, musician she split her prize among several good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," the artist shared with outlets.

Previously, they contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"The victory was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had protected several small stages in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "shares" in the properties.

Susan Ward
Susan Ward

A seasoned travel writer and photographer who has explored over 50 countries, sharing cultural insights and hidden gems.