Sam Fender donates his £25k prize award winnings to small music venues

The singer receiving his trophy in his hometown
The musician won the Mercury Prize in October in Newcastle

The artist has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.

He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across the UK.

The money assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.

Some locations obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The concept that money from shows in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.

Pulp on stage
Pulp are one example who contributed their award winnings to good causes

Fender is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to charitable organizations.

Back when they received the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, artist she divided her prize among multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

In recent years, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

And winners that year M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the disease.

"Winning was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust revealed it had saved a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in Southampton and the other in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the properties.

Rachel Spencer
Rachel Spencer

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