The artist donates twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to grassroots music venues
The artist has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.
The star was given the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
When they earned the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the act would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, artist she shared her award between a few good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they contributed their funds to the youth organization that supported their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," said singer the singer. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected another person's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had saved several small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in the city and The Croft in the city were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.