Sam Fender contributes £25,000 award winnings to grassroots music venues

The singer receiving the award in the North East
He received the Mercury Prize recently in Newcastle

The star has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.

The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.

He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.

"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

The band Pulp performing
Pulp are one example who donated their honor prize money to good causes

He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

Back when they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman the singer announced that the group would give their prize money to the organization War Child.

That year, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty across several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted another person's life."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.

Jonathan Barber
Jonathan Barber

UK-based gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casino reviews and responsible gambling advocacy.