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The artist contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to independent concert halls

Sam Fender accepting his trophy in his hometown
The musician was awarded the prestigious award in October in Newcastle

The star has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.

The star was presented with the award on October 16 as his new release his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.

He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous small stages across Britain.

The donation supported locations that were facing imminent closure due to issues stemming from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that helped performers and fans.

"The notion that revenue from performances in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

The band Pulp on stage
The group are one of the many acts who gave their honor prize money to charity

He is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.

When the band earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician she split her award among several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

In recent years, the band contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was quite enough," said vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success touched another person's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had protected several local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.

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Amber Miller

A passionate nutritionist and food blogger dedicated to promoting wellness through fresh, sustainable eating habits.

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