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Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Scotia Prime

The musician donates his £25k prize award winnings to small live spaces

The artist holding his trophy in the North East
He was awarded the Mercury Prize recently in his hometown

The star has handed over the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the Britain's grassroots live music spots.

He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was named the best record of the previous year.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

He also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.

The donation supported venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that helped artists and fans.

"The notion that money from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.

Pulp in concert
The group are one of the many acts who gave their award prize money to good causes

He is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to good deeds.

When Pulp received the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award across a few good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

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

Two years ago, they donated their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Winning was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.

RL
The writer

Renee Lewis

A seasoned financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in global markets and portfolio management.

Scotia Prime

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