🔗 Share this article

Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the Britain's independent concert spaces.

Fender was given the prize on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the previous year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots played in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across Britain.

The money supported spaces that were confronting possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents 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 positively impacted artists and fans.

"The notion that money from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.

In the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would give their cash to the organization War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize between several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the youth organization that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.

And winners that year the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," said singer Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in that area and the second in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.