Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
The star was given the award on October 16 as his third album People Watching was named the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
He also joined in, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The money assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to issues caused by floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
Back when the band received the trophy in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT announced it had rescued a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in the city and The Croft in the city were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
