Sam Fender Donates £25,000 Mercury Prize Winnings to Save Struggling Venues

Sam Fender, the acclaimed singer-songwriter from North Shields, has donated his entire £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to support struggling grassroots music venues. Fender, who won the prestigious award in October 2025 for his third album ‘People Watching’, emphasized that smaller venues were crucial to his early career, providing opportunities for up-and-coming artists. The Music Venue Trust, which represents hundreds of such venues, has reported significant financial challenges, with many venues operating at a near-loss or closing down due to rising costs and the pandemic’s ongoing effects. Fender’s donation aims to help these venues stay afloat, allowing them to continue hosting live music. He also previously raised over £100,000 for grassroots venues during his 2024 arena tour. Fender’s gesture has been praised by Mark Davyd, the Music Venue Trust CEO, who highlighted the importance of these venues in nurturing both local talent and communities. Other artists, like Coldplay and Katy Perry, have also supported similar initiatives by adding small levies to their ticket prices for this cause.