Sam Fender gives twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to independent live spaces

The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's independent music venues.

Fender was given the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.

He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The money supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The notion that funds from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.

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

When Pulp won the award in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman Cocker stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

That year, musician the artist divided her prize across several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the illness.

"The victory was quite enough," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.