🔗 Share this article

The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.

Fender was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.

Fender has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across the UK.

The donation assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.

"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

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

When the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman Cocker stated that the band would give their prize money to the charity War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her prize between a few charities, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally winners that year M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory affected the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.