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The artist donates twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to independent live spaces

Sam Fender holding Mercury Prize in his hometown
Sam Fender was awarded the honor in October in Newcastle

The artist has donated the full amount of his £25,000 honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.

He was presented with the award on 16 October as his new release the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.

He also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.

These funds helped venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The idea that revenue from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.

Pulp members in concert
Pulp are one example who gave their award prize money to good causes

Fender is among several artists to donate his award prize money to good deeds.

Back when they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, vocalist the singer declared that the band would give their winnings to the charity War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist divided her award across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

In recent years, they donated their funds to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other independent music bodies.

Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the trust announced it had saved several local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in the city and The Croft in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the properties.

By

John Morales

A seasoned designer and writer passionate about fostering creativity through practical advice and real-world examples.

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