🔗 Share this article

The star has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent live music spots.

Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was chosen as the best record of the past year.

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

"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.

The money helped locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues received financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

Fender is not the first artist to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.

In the band won the prize in 1996 for their record the album, frontman the singer declared that the group would give their cash to the charity War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she divided her award among a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," the artist shared with outlets.

Previously, the band contributed their funds to the community center that developed their band, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

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

Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the other in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.