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Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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Sam Fender contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to small live spaces

The artist accepting Mercury Prize in his hometown
Sam Fender received the Mercury Prize last month in his hometown

The artist has given the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which works to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.

The star was given the cheque on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the best record of the past year.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The money assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and audiences.

"The idea that money from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.

The band Pulp in concert
They are one example who contributed their Mercury Prize funds to charity

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

In Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, lead singer Cocker announced that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.

During 2002, artist the artist shared her award across several good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Previously, the band gave their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Also 1994 winners they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.

The first in the city and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.

JH
About the author

Jordan Huffman

Evelyn Vance is a seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing online casinos and providing strategic gaming advice.

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