Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his Mercury Prize winnings to a UK music charity.
Fender’s third album, People Watching, scooped the Mercury Music Prize at a ceremony last month in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
As well as the critical acclaim, the prize comes with a £25,000 ($32,000) cash prize.
For some recipients, the money covers the expense of touring, but Fender has joined past winners, such as Ms Dynamite (2002) and M People (1994), by donating the cash to charity.
The Music Venue Trust, a charity that supports grassroots music spaces, was named as the beneficiary.
Fender was awarded the annual prize for an outstanding LP by a British or Irish artist, seeing off stiff competition from Fontaines DC, Pulp, FKA twigs, PinkPantheress and more.
The Music Venue Trust works to protect and secure the future of grassroots venues across the country. In 2024 alone, 25 music venues closed in the UK due to rising costs and changing consumer habits.
“I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played around the North East and beyond when I was starting out,” Fender shared. “These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.”
Mark Davyd, chief executive and founder of the Music Venue Trust, said, “This is an incredible gesture by Sam, demonstrating once again that artists absolutely understand how vital grassroots music venues are to their careers and to their communities.
“We are honoured to accept this donation and will ensure every penny of it makes a direct difference to the campaign to keep live music at the heart of our towns and cities.”
