PRS Foundation congratulates Mercury Music Prize winner Sam Fender

20 October 2025 - Press release

 

 

• PRS Foundation has proudly supported 7 out of the last 8 Mercury Prize winners through various programmes
• Sam Fender had support through the PPL Momentum Music Fund to record early singles and International Showcase Fund support to perform at SXSW in Austin for the first time
• Fellow nominees Emma-Jean Thackray and Wolf Alice have also benefited from PRS Foundation support during their careers

 

PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development is delighted to congratulateSam Fender on winning this year’s Mercury Music Prize.  

Sam Fender received funding for early recordings, releases and shows in 2017 through PRS Foundation’s pioneeringPPL Momentum Music Fund before going on to receive support through the International Showcase Fund to perform in the U.S. for the first time in 2018 at SXSW in Austin, Texas which had a huge impact on his domestic and international development.

Fellow nominees Wolf Alice and Emma-Jean Thackray have also been supported through the International Showcase Fund which next year celebrates 20 years of supporting vital first global career steps. Emma-Jean has also been supported at various careers stages through programmes including the Lynsey de Paul Prize, Women Make Music, and through Musicians in Residence in partnership with British Council.

The PPL Momentum Music Fund offers grants of £5k-£15k for UK based artists/bands to break through to the next level of their careers. Activities eligible for support include recording, touring and marketing. The fund is run by PRS Foundation in partnership with PPL, Creative Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland. PRS Foundation and Arts Council England initiated The Momentum Music Fund in 2013.

The International Showcase Fund (ISF) offers grants of up to £5,500 for international export opportunities for UK-based artists, bands, songwriters and producers who have been invited to perform or create new music at international industry facing showcasing festivals, song writing camps or conferences. The International Showcase Fund is managed by PRS Foundation in partnership with Department for Business & Trade, British Underground, PPL, British Council, Musicians Union, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Wales Arts International and Arts Council Northern Ireland.

Sam Fender becomes the seventh winner of the Mercury Prize out of the last 8 that have had PRS Foundation support. Previous winners who have also been supported at vital moments in their career before winning the award include:

• Wolf Alice (2018) – International Showcase Fund
• Dave (2019) – International Showcase Fund
• Arlo Parks (2021) – PRS Foundation & BBC Introducing Showcase support
• Little Simz (2022) – PPL Momentum Music Fund, International Showcase Fund and PRS Foundation & BBC Introducing Showcase support
• Ezra Collective (2023) – PPL Momentum Music Fund, Steve Reid InNOVAtion, BBC Introducing & PRS Foundation showcase support, and support from Talent Development network organisations including Tomorrow’s Warriors and Jazz re:freshed
• English Teacher (2024) – PPL Momentum Accelerator Yorkshire, Talent Development Network support through Come Play With Me and Music:Leeds and Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition runner up

 

Joe Frankland, CEO, PRS Foundation says: “Huge congratulations to Sam Fender for winning this year’s Mercury Prize! It’s fantastic recognition for a brilliant record amongst an incredible nominations list. Several standout performances on the night demonstrated the strength and breadth of new music in the UK and Ireland over the last year, and it was a real pleasure seeing Sam and fellow PRS Foundation grantees Emma-Jean Thackray and Wolf Alice shine live thanks to partners including our Talent Development Network organisation Generator who brought the event and Fringe activities to Newcastle for the first time.

We’re incredibly proud to have supported Sam early on through our PPL Momentum Music initiative which funded early recordings and shows, and then again through our International Showcase Fund to enable Sam and his band to perform at SXSW for the first time in 2018.

Sam’s win last night means that 7 out of the last 8 Mercury Prize winners have had PRS Foundation support at some point in their career journey. As we celebrate our 25th Anniversary this year, its moments like this that our focus of investing in the future, funding new music and supporting careers and importantly our role collaborating and partnering with the industry remains vital for music creators and the wider ecosystem around them.”