🔗 Share this article

The star has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's independent live music spots.

He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the best record of the previous year.

Fender has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted locations that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and fans.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.

The musician is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to good deeds.

When the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician the artist split her award between multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"Winning was quite enough," stated singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of small stages in that region, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.