Sam Fender contributes his £25k prize cash award to small live spaces

The artist accepting Mercury Prize in his hometown
Sam Fender won the prestigious award last month in Newcastle

The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's grassroots music venues.

Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the past year.

Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.

Other venues received monetary aid in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.

Pulp members in concert
The group are one of the many acts who contributed their Mercury Prize winnings to non-profits

He is among several artists to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.

Back when the band received the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, musician the artist split her bounty among a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Previously, the band gave their winnings to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year M People contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved several local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.

The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.

Deborah Freeman
Deborah Freeman

A seasoned sports analyst with over a decade of experience in betting strategies and odds analysis.