The musician contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to small concert halls

Sam Fender accepting the award in his hometown
Sam Fender received the Mercury Prize in October in his hometown

Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the UK's independent music venues.

He was presented with the award on mid-October as his third album his work was named the best record of the past year.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across the UK.

These funds helped spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and audiences.

"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.

Pulp members performing
The group are one example who contributed their honor prize money to non-profits

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award prize money to worthy causes.

Back when they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman the singer announced that the act would donate their winnings to the charity the charity.

In 2002, rapper and singer she divided her prize across a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.

Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved a couple of local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.

Kimberly Snyder
Kimberly Snyder

A tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and cybersecurity, passionate about simplifying complex tech concepts.

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