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Thursday, October 8, 2026
Pathstand

The artist contributes twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to small music venues

Sam Fender holding Mercury Prize in his hometown
He won the Mercury Prize last month in the North East

The star has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's small music venues.

He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the top album of the previous year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The donation assisted venues that were confronting imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

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

The band Pulp on stage
Pulp are one example who gave their honor winnings to non-profits

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to charitable organizations.

In the band received the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, lead singer the singer declared that the band would donate their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer she divided her bounty between several charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the local youth club that developed their act, as well as other local music groups.

And the 1994 recipients they gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the illness.

"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had protected two grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in the city were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the properties.

About the author

Michael James

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about innovation and storytelling.

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