Sam Fender donates twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to grassroots live spaces

The artist holding Mercury Prize in the North East
He won the prestigious award last month in the North East

The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.

He was given the award on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the top album of the past year.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.

"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

He also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.

The money supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

Pulp in concert
They are one of the many acts who contributed their honor funds to good causes

The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his award winnings to good deeds.

Back when they earned the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between multiple organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," she explained to outlets.

In recent years, the band donated their winnings to the community center that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.

And 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in the city were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.

Charlotte Bell
Charlotte Bell

Award-winning poet and creative writing coach with over a decade of experience in literary arts, based in London.