Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots had in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped locations that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to worthy causes.
In Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the group would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist split her bounty among multiple good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," she told the media.
In recent years, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched the lives of others."
Last week, the trust shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
