Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
He also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to give his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist she divided her award between multiple charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she told outlets.
Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
