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The musician contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to small music venues

The artist accepting the award in his hometown
Sam Fender received the Mercury Prize in October in Newcastle

The artist has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career.

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The money supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues received monetary aid in improving amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.

"The notion that money from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.

Pulp on stage
The group are among the artists who gave their honor prize money to good causes

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his award prize money to charitable organizations.

In the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist the singer announced that the group would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist the artist shared her prize between several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.

Previously, they donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their band, as well as other independent music bodies.

And winners that year the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the trust shared it had saved two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.

The first in Southampton and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.

JM
Written by

Jennifer Murray

A tech enthusiast and digital strategist with a passion for exploring how emerging technologies shape our daily lives and future possibilities.

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