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

Sam Fender accepting his trophy in Newcastle
The musician received the Mercury Prize in October in the North East

The artist has given the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

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

Fender has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

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

These funds helped locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that helped performers and audiences.

"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.

Pulp members in concert
Pulp are one of the many acts who donated their honor funds to good causes

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

When they received the prize in the mid-90s for their record the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist she shared her prize among a few charities, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she told outlets.

Previously, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.

Additionally winners that year the group gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected two local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by a national body and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.

Benjamin Bennett
Benjamin Bennett

A seasoned tech journalist and business analyst with over a decade of experience covering digital transformation and startup ecosystems.