🔗 Share this article

The star has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

He was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the top album of the last 12 months.

He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous small stages across Britain.

These funds supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained funding support in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.

"The idea that funds from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

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

When they earned the award in the year 1996 for their release the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would give their winnings to the organization the charity.

In 2002, musician she shared her award between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she shared with the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners M People gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved two grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

The first in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "stakes" in the venues.