🔗 Share this article

Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which functions to save the UK's small concert spaces.

He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

The musician has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Over the past year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues caused by floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues received funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and fans.

"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

The musician is not the first artist to give his award winnings to worthy causes.

When they received the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her bounty across multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," the artist explained to the media.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that developed their act, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year they contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Winning was ample," said singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust announced it had saved two local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "shares" in the buildings.