🔗 Share this article The musician gives his £25k prize cash award to grassroots music venues He won the Mercury Prize in October in Newcastle The artist has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's independent live music spots. Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year. The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career. "I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling." Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene. Recently, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues. He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across Britain. The donation supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints. Other venues obtained monetary aid in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans. "The idea that revenue from performances in big venues backs the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated. Pulp are among the artists who gave their Mercury Prize prize money to good causes The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his award funds to good deeds. When Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child. During 2002, musician the artist shared her bounty between a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell. "And I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," she told outlets. Two years ago, they gave their prize money to the community center that supported their act, alongside other independent music bodies. And winners that year they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease. "Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others." Last week, the trust announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into local control. One venue in that area and the second in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the properties.