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Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's small music venues.

Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and fans.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in major spaces backs the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

The musician is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

When the band received the award in 1996 for their record their work, frontman the singer declared that the group would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer she divided her bounty between a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the community center that supported their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients the group contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the illness.

"The victory was ample," stated artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued two local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.

The first in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.