The musician gives twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to independent concert halls

The artist receiving his trophy in his hometown
The musician was awarded the Mercury Prize last month in his hometown

The star has given the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which works to save the UK's independent music venues.

The star was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots played in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.

He also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 local spots across Britain.

The donation helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and audiences.

"The notion that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

Pulp performing
The group are among the artists who gave their award winnings to non-profits

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his award funds to good deeds.

Back when Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her prize between multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she explained to outlets.

Previously, they contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners they gave their award to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the trust announced it had rescued several small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.

Danielle Rodriguez
Danielle Rodriguez

A tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in web development and emerging technologies.