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Friday, October 9, 2026
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Sam Fender donates twenty-five thousand pounds cash award to small live spaces

Sam Fender holding the award in Newcastle
He was awarded the Mercury Prize last month in the North East

The artist has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's small live music spots.

He was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.

Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues received monetary aid in improving facilities and gear that helped performers and fans.

"The idea that revenue from shows in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.

Pulp members on stage
The group are one example who donated their Mercury Prize funds to non-profits

Fender is not the first artist to give his honor funds to good deeds.

Back when the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, frontman the singer announced that the act would give their winnings to the organization the charity.

That year, musician the artist split her prize across several charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.

In recent years, they donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year they contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."

Recently, the MVT announced it had saved a couple of local spots in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

The first in that area and the second in that location were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.

By

Jack Taylor

Elara Vance is a seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience in reviewing online casinos and analyzing industry trends.

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