The musician donates his £25k prize Mercury Prize to independent live spaces
Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.
The star was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.
The donation assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to give his honor prize money to good deeds.
Back when the band earned the prize in 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her award among several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
