🔗 Share this article

The artist has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.

The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation supported locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has said.

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.

When they earned the award in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, artist she shared her prize between multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist told outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.

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

"Winning was quite enough," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory touched another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved two grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.