Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was given the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots played in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped venues that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is not the first artist to donate his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
When Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her prize between multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," she explained to the media.
Previously, they gave their funds to the local youth club that developed their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in the city and the other in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.
