Sam Fender contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to independent music venues

Sam Fender accepting Mercury Prize in his hometown
Sam Fender received the honor in October in his hometown

The star has donated the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

He was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.

He has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.

"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.

He also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.

The money supported locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.

Some locations obtained funding support in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from shows in major spaces supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

Pulp in concert
Pulp are one of the many acts who contributed their honor winnings to charity

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.

In Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

That year, artist she shared her bounty between several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

Previously, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners M People gave their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was ample," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."

Recently, the MVT shared it had protected several small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.

Miranda Davis
Miranda Davis

A seasoned business strategist with over 15 years of experience in UK market analysis and corporate development.