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Sam Fender contributes his £25k prize Mercury Prize to small concert halls

The artist accepting his trophy in the North East
He won the prestigious award last month in Newcastle

The star has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's small music venues.

He was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release the album was named the best record of the past year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his initial steps.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 local spots across the UK.

The money supported venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.

Pulp members in concert
They are one example who gave their Mercury Prize prize money to non-profits

He is among several artists to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.

When they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the charity the charity.

In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her prize across a few good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she told a publication.

Two years ago, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning touched another person's life."

Recently, the trust announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.

Written by

Brandy Winters

A digital strategist and tech writer with over a decade of experience helping businesses adapt to modern technologies across the UK.

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