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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
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The artist contributes his £25k prize cash award to independent live spaces

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

The star has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to save the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

Fender was given the award on 16 October as his third album his work was declared the best record of the past year.

Fender has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages had in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.

Sam Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

The money supported locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The idea that revenue from shows in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has said.

Pulp members in concert
Pulp are one of the many acts who donated their Mercury Prize funds to charity

The musician is far from the only musician to give his award winnings to good deeds.

When Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer the singer stated that the act would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize between a few good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their group, as well as other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their award to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the condition.

"The victory was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success affected the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.

JW
Written by

Jonathan Wolf

A business strategist with over a decade of experience in Canadian market expansion and digital transformation.

FastBase Canada

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