Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In they won the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman the singer announced that the band would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her award between a few good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," the artist explained to the media.
Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Winning was ample," stated vocalist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.
