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The musician gives twenty-five thousand pounds cash award to small concert halls

Sam Fender holding Mercury Prize in the North East
The musician won the honor in October in the North East

The star has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

He was given the cheque on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the past year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.

The money supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to issues stemming from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and fans.

"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

Pulp in concert
They are among the artists who donated their award prize money to good causes

He is among several artists to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.

In they received the award in 1996 for their album their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would contribute their cash to the charity the charity.

During 2002, artist she divided her award across a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the trust revealed it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.

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Toni Frederick

A seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering the UK casino and slots industry, specializing in game reviews and regulatory updates.

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