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Sam Fender gives his £25k prize award winnings to grassroots live spaces

The artist holding Mercury Prize in the North East
He received the prestigious award in October in his hometown

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

He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the last 12 months.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.

Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.

The money supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained funding support in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.

The band Pulp performing
The group are among the artists who gave their award winnings to non-profits

Fender is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.

In Pulp won the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity the charity.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her bounty among a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she told a publication.

Previously, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.

Also winners that year the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."

Last week, the trust shared it had saved a couple of local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.

The first in that area and The Croft in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.

PS
By

Pamela Savage

A UK-based technology strategist with over 15 years of experience in digital innovation and enterprise solutions.

Krypton Global

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