Sam Fender gives twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to grassroots music venues
The star has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to good deeds.
When the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, artist she divided her award among multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
In recent years, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in the city and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.