Sam Fender contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to small live spaces

The star has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the Britain's independent music venues.

The star was given the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

He also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds supported spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.

Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The concept that funds from performances in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.

He is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to good deeds.

When the band won the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her bounty across a few charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she told a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the youth organization that supported their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they gave their award to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

The first in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "stakes" in the buildings.