🔗 Share this article

The star has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous small stages across the UK.

The money helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Additional spaces received funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped artists and fans.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has said.

He is far from the only musician to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when the band earned the award in 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her bounty across multiple charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the community center that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.

"The victory was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.