Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
Fender was given the cheque on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages had in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and fans.
"The idea that funds from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would give their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her bounty among several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," she explained to a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that supported their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had protected several grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
