Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record his work was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation supported locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
Back when they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Cocker declared that the band would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her bounty between a few organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist explained to the media.
Previously, the band donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched another person's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved several local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
