The musician contributes his £25k prize award winnings to independent music venues

Sam Fender holding the award in the North East
The musician received the honor in October in the North East

The artist has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's small live music spots.

He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record his work was named the best record of the last 12 months.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

He also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

The donation helped venues that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.

Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.

"The idea that money from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.

The band Pulp on stage
They are one example who contributed their award prize money to good causes

He is not the first artist to give his honor funds to good deeds.

Back when they received the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would donate their cash to the organization the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award between a few good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," she explained to outlets.

Previously, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected a couple of small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.

Edward Woods
Edward Woods

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