Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which functions to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.
He was given the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role local spots played in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped venues that were confronting imminent closure due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues backs the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.
In they won the award in the year 1996 for their album the album, vocalist the singer stated that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize among a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the community center that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients they gave their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in that area and the other in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.
