Skip to content
MintedSpot UK

The artist donates twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to grassroots live spaces

Sam Fender accepting the award in the North East
Sam Fender was awarded the Mercury Prize recently in his hometown

The star has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which works to save the Britain's grassroots music venues.

He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the top album of the last 12 months.

He has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his early career.

"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 small stages across the UK.

The money assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that helped musicians and audiences.

"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.

Pulp in concert
The group are among the artists who contributed their Mercury Prize funds to charity

He is not the first artist to contribute his honor prize money to charitable organizations.

In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their prize money to the organization the charity.

That year, artist the artist divided her award among a few good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told outlets.

In recent years, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," stated artist Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected the lives of others."

Last week, the MVT announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.

One venue in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.

About the author

Melissa Leach

A seasoned journalist with a passion for mindfulness and ethical reporting, bringing clarity to complex topics.

MintedSpot UK

Type to search articles.