Sam Fender donates his £25k prize Mercury Prize to independent music venues
The star has given the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which works to save the UK's small live music spots.
He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record his work was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots played in his early career.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that helped musicians and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
In they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist shared her bounty between several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," she told outlets.
Previously, they gave their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was ample," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected another person's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had saved two small stages in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the second in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.