Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was given the award on October 16 as his third album his work was named the best record of the previous year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across Britain.
The donation supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that helped artists and audiences.
"The notion that funds from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
When they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman Cocker announced that the group would give their winnings to the charity the charity.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her award between a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners they donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had saved several grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by a national body and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
