Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which works to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
The star was given the award on October 16 as his latest record his work was named the best record of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from shows in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his award winnings to good deeds.
In Pulp received the award in 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist she split her award across multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our success affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
