The musician contributes twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to grassroots concert halls

The artist receiving Mercury Prize in the North East
He was awarded the Mercury Prize in October in the North East

The star has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the MVT, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent music venues.

He was given the award on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the past year.

He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.

"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation helped venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues received financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

Pulp in concert
The group are one of the many acts who gave their honor prize money to charity

He is among several artists to give his award prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when Pulp earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman Cocker announced that the group would give their cash to the charity War Child.

That year, artist she divided her award among several organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else's life."

In the past week, the trust shared it had saved a couple of small stages in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.

Edward Fischer
Edward Fischer

Design enthusiast and tech innovator with over a decade of experience in digital media and creative industries.