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The artist donates £25,000 cash award to small live spaces

The singer holding the award in the North East
The musician won the prestigious award in October in his hometown

The star has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's small music venues.

The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, top acts including Pulp, the group 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 supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

These funds supported venues that were facing imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The notion that funds from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

Pulp members on stage
They are one example who gave their honor funds to good causes

Fender is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer announced that the act would give their winnings to the organization the charity.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the community center that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally winners that year M People contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the illness.

"The victory was quite enough," stated singer Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.

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Michael Martinez

A tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for demystifying complex technologies for everyday users.

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