🔗 Share this article

The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was named the best record of the previous year.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.

Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

These funds supported spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues obtained funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has said.

Fender is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when they received the award in 1996 for their album their work, frontman Cocker announced that the band would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

That year, artist she shared her prize between multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected another person's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two local spots in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.