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The artist contributes £25,000 Mercury Prize to grassroots live spaces

The singer receiving his trophy in his hometown
The musician was awarded the prestigious award recently in Newcastle

The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the UK's grassroots live music spots.

The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the best record of the past year.

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

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.

The donation assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces helps the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

The band Pulp performing
They are one example who donated their award winnings to charity

Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to charitable organizations.

When the band won the prize in 1996 for their album the album, frontman the singer announced that the act would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.

During 2002, artist the artist shared her prize across multiple good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told outlets.

Previously, they gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

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

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in that area and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by a national body and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.

FL
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Felicia Lopez

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in the UK online casino industry, specializing in slot game reviews and player strategies.

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