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Friday, October 16, 2026
Casino Echo Online

The artist gives his £25k prize award winnings to independent live spaces

The artist accepting the award in the North East
He was awarded the honor recently in Newcastle

The star has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the trust for venues, which operates to save the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.

The star was awarded the prize on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the top album of the past year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous local spots across the UK.

These funds assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The idea that funds from performances in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

The band Pulp on stage
The group are one of the many acts who gave their honor winnings to non-profits

The musician is among several artists to give his honor prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when the band earned the prize in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

That year, musician the artist shared her award among several good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that developed their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."

Last week, the trust announced it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the venues.

By

Theresa Vasquez

Liam is a seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos and betting strategies.

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