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The musician gives £25,000 cash award to small live spaces

The artist accepting Mercury Prize in the North East
He was awarded the honor in October in his hometown

The star has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's independent music venues.

The star was given the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues received funding support in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.

Pulp members in concert
They are among the artists who contributed their Mercury Prize funds to charity

He is among several artists to give his award prize money to good deeds.

Back when the band received the award in 1996 for their record their work, lead singer the singer announced that the band would donate their cash to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist she divided her award across several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory affected the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.

The writer

Dominique Park

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in slot mechanics and player psychology.

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