Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the UK's grassroots music venues.
He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in modernizing facilities and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from concerts in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his award funds to charitable organizations.
When they won the prize in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the charity the charity.
That year, artist she split her bounty among multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she told outlets.
In recent years, they donated their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year they contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," stated singer the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of small stages in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.
