Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
The star was presented with the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
He also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and fans.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
Back when the band earned the award in 1996 for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, artist the artist shared her award among multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
In recent years, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients they contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
