The musician gives his £25k prize Mercury Prize to independent music venues

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

The artist has given the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the top album of the past year.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.

The donation supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that money from performances in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

Pulp members performing
They are among the artists who contributed their honor funds to charity

Fender is far from the only musician to give his award winnings to worthy causes.

In Pulp won the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist split her award among several organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

Previously, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory touched somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in that area and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "shares" in the venues.

Steven Burke
Steven Burke

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and business innovation.