🔗 Share this article

Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.

Fender was given the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

He also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported venues that were facing potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.

He is far from the only musician to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would give their cash to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist split her bounty across several good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.

Previously, they donated their funds to the community center that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.

And 1994 winners they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning touched another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.