Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's grassroots music venues.
The star was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was declared the best record of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots had in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving facilities and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
He is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to good deeds.
Back when the band won the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer the singer declared that the group would give their winnings to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize across a few organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.
In recent years, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued several small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
