Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.
The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
These funds supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that funds from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
In they received the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty across several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she explained to the media.
In recent years, they donated their winnings to the community center that developed their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of small stages in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
