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Sam Fender gives his £25k prize award winnings to independent live spaces

Sam Fender receiving Mercury Prize in his hometown
The musician was awarded the Mercury Prize recently in Newcastle

The artist has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the UK's small music venues.

The star was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was declared the best record of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.

He also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support numerous local spots across Britain.

The donation assisted locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and audiences.

"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

The band Pulp on stage
They are one of the many acts who contributed their honor funds to charity

Fender is among several artists to give his honor funds to good deeds.

In they earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.

That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her prize among a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist told outlets.

In recent years, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and the other in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.

By

Lori Ruiz

Wissenschaftsautorin mit Fokus auf innovative Technologien und Umweltthemen.

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