The artist contributes his £25k prize cash award to independent live spaces

The singer accepting Mercury Prize in his hometown
The musician won the honor in October in his hometown

The artist has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

He has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

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

In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

He also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Some locations obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The concept that money from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

Pulp performing
They are one of the many acts who contributed their award winnings to non-profits

Fender is among several artists to donate his award winnings to good deeds.

In they received the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist divided her award between several good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners they donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said singer the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved a couple of small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the properties.

Tanya Palmer
Tanya Palmer

A seasoned UK gambling journalist with over a decade of experience covering lottery trends and casino news.