Sam Fender donates Mercury Prize winnings to support grassroots venues across the UK

Musician Sam Fender has donated the full £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust (MVT), underscoring his commitment to the UK’s grassroots music venues. The donation follows Fender receiving the Mercury Prize for his album People Watching, with the award presented on 16 October. He cited the crucial role small venues played in his early career and highlighted that many such venues are struggling, noting over 150 closures since 2023 across the UK. In addition to Fender’s donation, several prominent artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have supported the MVT by introducing a small levy on ticket prices to help smaller venues. Fender had already raised over £100,000 during his 2024 arena tour to aid 38 grassroots venues in England, Scotland, and Wales, providing funds for venues at risk of closure due to floods, fires, bereavement, licensing issues, and other challenges. Other grants have helped venues upgrade facilities and equipment that benefit artists and audiences. Fender emphasized the practical logic of channeling money from larger venues to nurture the beginnings of artists’ careers. The article also notes previous Mercury Prize beneficiaries who have donated prize money to charities or community projects, and mentions the MVT’s recent success in purchasing two grassroots venues through the Own Our Venues initiative with support from Arts Council England and music fans.