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Thursday, October 15, 2026
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The musician gives twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to small music venues

The singer receiving his trophy in Newcastle
Sam Fender was awarded the honor in October in Newcastle

The artist has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the Britain's independent concert spaces.

He was given the award on 16 October as his latest record his work was named the top album of the past year.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.

Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his recent tour to help thirty-eight small stages across Britain.

The donation assisted locations that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.

Pulp members performing
They are one example who contributed their award prize money to good causes

Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his honor funds to charitable organizations.

In they earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would give their cash to the organization War Child.

In 2002, artist she split her prize across several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

Previously, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," said singer the singer. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success affected somebody else's life."

Recently, the trust announced it had protected two grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in that area and the other in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the properties.

JB
Written by

Julie Ballard

Elena Vance is a seasoned betting analyst with over a decade of experience reviewing UK gambling platforms and strategies.

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