Sam Fender Donates £25,000 Mercury Prize Winnings to Music Venue Trust to Help Save Struggling Grassroots Music Venues Across the UK.
Sam Fender is putting his money where his music started.
The British rocker has donated his entire £25,000 ($32,000) Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venue Trust (MVT) — a UK-based charity fighting to keep small, independent gig spaces alive.
The “Seventeen Going Under” singer, who took home the prestigious award for his latest album People Watching, said he owes his success to the grassroots venues that gave him his start.
“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 said. “These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.”
The Music Venue Trust represents hundreds of small clubs and local performance spaces across the UK — the kinds of rooms where stars like Fender, Ed Sheeran, and Adele once cut their teeth. According to the charity, many of these spots are at risk of closing due to rising costs and shrinking profits.
Mark Davyd, CEO and founder of MVT, praised Fender’s generous act:
“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.”
And this isn’t the first time Fender’s stepped up for the cause. During his 2024 arena tour across the UK and Ireland, he donated £1 from every ticket sold, raising more than £100,000 ($128,000) for MVT’s “Liveline Fund,” which helps struggling venues keep their doors open.
“It’s brilliant to see that the money raised from the arena tour is making a real difference,” Fender said at the time. “The idea that big shows can help small ones just makes sense.”
Thanks to continued donations from artists and fans, the MVT has already helped save beloved spots like The Joiners and The Croft in Southampton. Even iconic venues like London’s Royal Albert Hall have joined the movement, adopting a £1 ticket levy to support smaller clubs.
The idea has gained major momentum in the UK — with support from artists like Coldplay, Katy Perry, Pulp, and Mumford & Sons — and even political backing. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly endorsed the initiative earlier this year, calling grassroots venues “the heartbeat of British music.”
“We need to support venues – large and small – across the country,” Starmer said. “They’re where young people experience their first gigs and where future stars get their start.”
With so many fans and artists rallying together, Fender’s donation is yet another reminder of how powerful community can be in keeping live music alive.
