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The musician donates twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to small live spaces

The artist holding his trophy in Newcastle
The musician won the prestigious award in October in Newcastle

The star has handed over the entirety of his £25k award cash to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's independent live music spots.

He was given the award on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation helped spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

The band Pulp in concert
The group are one example who contributed their honor winnings to good causes

He is far from the only musician to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.

When the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their record the album, lead singer Cocker announced that the group would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between several organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told outlets.

Previously, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally winners that year they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted another person's life."

Last week, the trust shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.

Written by

Robert Yu

A seasoned casino analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing online gambling platforms and slot games.

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