Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across the UK.
The donation supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading amenities and gear that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his award winnings to good deeds.
Back when they won the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist she divided her award between multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the venues.
