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The musician contributes £25,000 cash award to independent concert halls

Sam Fender accepting his trophy in Newcastle
He won the honor last month in Newcastle

The star has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.

Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was named the top album of the past year.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots had in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues arising from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces received funding support in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.

"The idea that money from shows in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

Pulp members in concert
The group are one example who gave their honor winnings to good causes

He is among several artists to donate his award funds to good deeds.

Back when the band won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, lead singer the singer stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award across a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

Previously, they gave their prize money to the community center that nurtured their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had saved several grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "shares" in the buildings.

TM
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Tracie Martinez

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in UK market trends and player safety.

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