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The musician donates his £25k prize cash award to independent concert halls

The artist holding his trophy in Newcastle
The musician received the honor in October in his hometown

The star has donated the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's small concert spaces.

He was awarded the prize on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.

These funds supported venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and concertgoers.

"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

Pulp performing
Pulp are among the artists who gave their honor funds to charity

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

In they won the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman Cocker stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the community center that supported their act, as well as other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the disease.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the venues.

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By

George Butler

A certified personal trainer with over 10 years of experience, specializing in strength training and nutrition coaching.

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