Sam Fender gives his £25k prize Mercury Prize to small music venues
The artist has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's grassroots live music spots.
The star was given the cheque on 16 October as his third album his work was declared the top album of the previous year.
He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
The donation helped locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
In the band received the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the group would give their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, artist the artist divided her award between a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the community center that nurtured their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year they gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the trust announced it had protected a couple of small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.