Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when the band won the prize in 1996 for their record their work, frontman the singer stated that the group would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist divided her bounty across several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of small stages in that region, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who acquire "shares" in the venues.
