Sam Fender has pledged the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venue Trust (MVT), an organisation dedicated to preserving grassroots music venues across the UK. The donation follows the announcement of his third album People Watching being named the best record of the past 12 months at the prestigious ceremony held on 16 October.
Fender, who rose to fame through performing at small venues, chose to support MVT in recognition of the vital role these spaces played in his early career. “I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out,” said the artist. “These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.”
Since the beginning of 2023, over 150 grassroots venues across the UK have closed their doors permanently, representing roughly 16% of the sector. This growing issue has prompted several major artists, including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Enter Shikari, and Ed Sheeran, to add a small levy to their ticket prices to support smaller venues.
Fender himself has been involved in fundraising efforts, raising over £100,000 during his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues in England, Scotland, and Wales. This money has been used to assist venues dealing with a range of challenges, from flooding and fires to licensing issues and noise complaints.
Many of these venues also received funds to upgrade their facilities and technical equipment, benefiting both the artists who perform there and the audiences who attend. Fender has expressed that supporting the grassroots scene is simply “common sense,” noting that it is the smaller venues where many musicians, including himself, get their start.
Fender’s generous donation continues a tradition of Mercury Prize winners supporting charitable causes. In 1996, Pulp donated their prize money to the War Child charity, while in 2002, Ms Dynamite split hers between several causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity. Two years ago, Ezra Collective used their winnings to support the local youth club that helped nurture their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations. In 1994, M People gave their prize to a charity supporting multiple sclerosis after a close friend’s diagnosis.
Last week, the MVT also announced the successful community buyouts of two venues in south-east England – The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol. These venues have been saved under the Own Our Venues initiative, a project supported by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase shares in the venues.
With many grassroots venues facing existential threats, initiatives like these are crucial in ensuring that the UK’s live music scene remains vibrant for future generations.