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Sunday, October 18, 2026
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Sam Fender donates £25,000 award winnings to small live spaces

The artist receiving Mercury Prize in the North East
Sam Fender was awarded the Mercury Prize in October in Newcastle

The artist has donated the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's small live music spots.

The star was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the best record of the past year.

He has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

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

Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

He also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 local spots across the UK.

These funds assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues received funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and audiences.

"The concept that funds from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

Pulp members performing
Pulp are one of the many acts who donated their award prize money to charity

The musician is among several artists to give his award winnings to good deeds.

In they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist she shared her prize among multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the properties.

The writer

Lisa Martin

Lotte is een kinderpsycholoog en moeder van twee, gespecialiseerd in vroege kinderontwikkeling.

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