The artist contributes twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to small music venues

The singer receiving the award in his hometown
The musician was awarded the Mercury Prize recently in Newcastle

Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record his work was named the top album of the previous year.

Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.

He also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

These funds assisted locations that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The concept that money from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

Pulp members on stage
They are one example who contributed their award prize money to good causes

The musician is among several artists to donate his honor funds to good deeds.

When they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer the singer stated that the band would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.

During 2002, musician she divided her prize across several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she shared with outlets.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued several local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in the city and the other in the city were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.

Tammy Harding
Tammy Harding

Elara Vance is a tech journalist and software developer with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and digital innovations.