🔗 Share this article

The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.

He was given the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the best record of the past year.

He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.

"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.

The money assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Other venues received monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.

"The notion that revenue from concerts in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.

Back when the band received the award in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist shared her award among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

In recent years, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the condition.

"The victory was ample," remarked singer the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT shared it had saved several small stages in the South East, by placing them under local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.