The artist gives £25,000 Mercury Prize to independent music venues

The singer holding his trophy in the North East
He received the prestigious award recently in Newcastle

The star has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.

The star was given the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the past year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The donation helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

Pulp members in concert
Pulp are among the artists who gave their award prize money to charity

Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, artist the artist divided her award across multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist told outlets.

Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year they gave their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the illness.

"The victory was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."

Last week, the trust revealed it had saved several local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.

Joseph Little
Joseph Little

A seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in Canadian media, specializing in political and economic reporting.