Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
The star was awarded the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues obtained funding support in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and audiences.
"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist the singer announced that the group would give their winnings to the charity the charity.
That year, artist the artist shared her bounty between multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was ample," stated singer Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.
