🔗 Share this article

The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.

He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his third album the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.

He also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues received funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.

"The idea that money from shows in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.

He is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.

In they won the award in the mid-90s for their album their work, lead singer Cocker announced that the group would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award across a few charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she shared with a publication.

In recent years, the band donated their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, as well as other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients M People gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the buildings.