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The artist has given the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's independent music venues.

Fender was presented with the award on mid-October as his new release People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

The musician is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when the band received the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician she divided her bounty between multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told outlets.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was quite enough," stated artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the trust announced it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in that area and the other in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.