The musician gives his £25k prize Mercury Prize to independent music venues

The artist accepting his trophy in Newcastle
The musician received the honor in October in Newcastle

The artist has donated the entirety of his £25,000 award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's independent music venues.

Fender was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues played in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

The donation supported locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and audiences.

"The notion that funds from shows in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

The band Pulp performing
Pulp are one example who gave their Mercury Prize prize money to good causes

The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.

In Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist she shared her bounty between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the youth organization that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the illness.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked artist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.

Terri Davis
Terri Davis

Lena is a seasoned innovation consultant with over a decade of experience helping startups transform ideas into successful ventures.