Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they won the prize in the mid-90s for their record the album, frontman Cocker stated that the group would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, musician she shared her prize among a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist told outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the illness.
"The victory was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted another person's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.
