Sam Fender donates £25,000 cash award to independent music venues

The artist holding his trophy in the North East
Sam Fender was awarded the prestigious award recently in his hometown

Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the Britain's independent concert spaces.

He was given the award on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the top album of the previous year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

These funds supported spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading amenities and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

The band Pulp performing
The group are among the artists who contributed their Mercury Prize funds to non-profits

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.

In the band earned the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the act would donate their cash to the charity War Child.

In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her award among multiple organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist told outlets.

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

Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by a national body and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the properties.

Andrea Higgins
Andrea Higgins

Elena is a tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering AI and cybersecurity trends across Europe.