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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
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The musician donates his £25k prize Mercury Prize to independent music venues

The artist accepting his trophy in his hometown
He received the prestigious award in October in his hometown

The star has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to preserve the UK's small concert spaces.

Fender was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was declared the best record of the previous year.

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

The money assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving facilities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The notion that money from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

Pulp members in concert
Pulp are one of the many acts who donated their award winnings to charity

He is not the first artist to contribute his award prize money to good deeds.

When they won the award in 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Cocker declared that the group would donate their prize money to the organization the charity.

In 2002, artist the artist divided her bounty between a few good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist told outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in the city were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.

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Mark Calderon

A seasoned casino gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing slot machines and providing strategic advice to players.

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