Sam Fender gives £25,000 cash award to independent live spaces
The star has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's independent music venues.
The star was presented with the award on mid-October as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation supported spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The concept that money from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
When Pulp won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her prize across multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
In recent years, they contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory touched another person's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had saved two local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.