Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
The star was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
These funds supported spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
When Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their record their work, vocalist the singer declared that the band would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, musician she divided her bounty among a few charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners the group donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," said singer Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in that area and the other in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
