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Sam Fender contributes twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to grassroots music venues

The singer receiving the award in Newcastle
He was awarded the honor in October in Newcastle

The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.

The star was given the cheque on 16 October as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.

The money assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues received monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The idea that revenue from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.

Pulp performing
They are one of the many acts who donated their Mercury Prize winnings to charity

He is among several artists to give his honor prize money to good deeds.

When they received the award in 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit the charity.

In 2002, musician she divided her prize between multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

In recent years, the band gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued two small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.

SP
About the author

Scott Porter

Lena Visser is a Dutch visual artist with over a decade of experience in contemporary art and art education.

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