The artist donates twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to small music venues

The singer holding the award in the North East
He won the prestigious award last month in the North East

Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the Britain's independent music venues.

Fender was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the top album of the previous year.

He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

These funds helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Some locations received funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and audiences.

"The notion that revenue from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

Pulp in concert
Pulp are one of the many acts who gave their Mercury Prize funds to non-profits

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

When Pulp won the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize among a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.

Robert Turner
Robert Turner

A passionate gaming journalist and esports enthusiast with over a decade of experience covering competitive gaming and industry trends.