Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to save the Britain's small music venues.
He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record his work was declared the best record of the previous year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also participated, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in modernizing amenities and gear that helped performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
He is not the first artist to give his award prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman Cocker stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity the charity.
That year, artist the artist divided her prize among multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with the media.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People donated their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Winning was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
