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Sam Fender donates twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to independent live spaces

The singer accepting Mercury Prize in Newcastle
Sam Fender was awarded the Mercury Prize in October in Newcastle

The star has given the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

Fender was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the top album of the previous year.

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.

The donation assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from concerts in big venues supports the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.

The band Pulp on stage
The group are one example who gave their Mercury Prize winnings to non-profits

Fender is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.

In they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer announced that the act would give their prize money to the charity War Child.

That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her prize among multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist told the media.

Two years ago, they donated their prize money to the youth organization that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners they contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," said singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory affected another person's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued two local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.

Written by

James Gonzalez

Elara Vance is a tech journalist and innovation analyst with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and digital trends.

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