The musician gives his £25k prize Mercury Prize to small live spaces

Sam Fender receiving Mercury Prize in Newcastle
He was awarded the Mercury Prize recently in his hometown

The star has given the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.

Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots played in his early career.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.

Sam Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

These funds assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from shows in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

The band Pulp in concert
They are among the artists who gave their award funds to charity

The musician is among several artists to contribute his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

In the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer stated that the band would donate their cash to the organization the charity.

In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her bounty between a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.

Previously, the band gave their funds to the community center that supported their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

And the 1994 recipients they gave their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in the city and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the venues.

Michael Morse
Michael Morse

Maya is a data scientist and tech strategist with over a decade of experience in AI applications for enterprise innovation.