The artist gives £25,000 cash award to independent live spaces

The singer receiving his trophy in his hometown
The musician was awarded the Mercury Prize last month in his hometown

The star has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's independent concert spaces.

Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across the UK.

These funds helped venues that were confronting imminent closure due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues obtained financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that helped artists and fans.

"The idea that funds from performances in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.

Pulp performing
The group are among the artists who gave their Mercury Prize prize money to good causes

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

In they won the prize in the mid-90s for their record the album, lead singer the singer declared that the act would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.

In 2002, artist she split her prize between multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally winners that year they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."

Recently, the trust revealed it had protected two grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.

Michael Doyle
Michael Doyle

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and business innovations across North America.