Sam Fender contributes twenty-five thousand pounds cash award to independent music venues

Sam Fender receiving his trophy in his hometown
The musician received the prestigious award last month in the North East

The artist has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.

The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his latest record his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous small stages across Britain.

These funds assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from performances in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.

Pulp performing
The group are one example who donated their honor winnings to good causes

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

When they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album their work, lead singer the singer stated that the group would donate their cash to the charity the charity.

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

"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she explained to outlets.

Two years ago, they contributed their funds to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted another person's life."

Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.

One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.

Benjamin Hicks
Benjamin Hicks

Elara is a seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in casino gaming and strategy development.