🔗 Share this article

Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which functions to save the UK's small live music spots.

Fender was given the award on October 16 as his new release his work was declared the best record of the past year.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

These funds supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Some locations obtained financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The notion that revenue from performances in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.

The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.

When the band earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman the singer stated that the act would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her award between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the disease.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the trust shared it had saved two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.