The musician contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to independent live spaces

The artist holding the award in the North East
Sam Fender was awarded the prestigious award in October in the North East

The artist has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's small music venues.

The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album his work was declared the top album of the previous year.

Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

These funds assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and audiences.

"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.

Pulp members performing
Pulp are among the artists who donated their Mercury Prize winnings to good causes

Fender is among several artists to donate his honor prize money to good deeds.

Back when Pulp won the award in the mid-90s for their release their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

That year, musician the artist split her award among several good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," the artist explained to a publication.

Two years ago, they contributed their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners they donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"Receiving the award was ample," stated singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust revealed it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in that area and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.

Ryan Gonzalez
Ryan Gonzalez

A seasoned travel writer and luxury lifestyle expert with over a decade of experience exploring global destinations and sharing unique insights.

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