Sam Fender donates his £25k prize Mercury Prize to grassroots music venues

The star has donated the complete sum of his £25k award cash to the trust for venues, which works to save the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.

He was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots played in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted locations that were facing possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations received funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that helped musicians and audiences.

"The idea that money from concerts in large arenas backs the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to charitable organizations.

In Pulp received the award in the mid-90s for their album their work, vocalist the singer stated that the act would give their prize money to the organization War Child.

During 2002, artist the artist shared her award across a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners they contributed their award to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.