Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.
The star was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release the album was named the best record of the previous year.
He has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across Britain.
The donation supported spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.
The musician is among several artists to give his award prize money to worthy causes.
In they earned the award in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the band would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist shared her award among several organizations, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she explained to outlets.
In recent years, they contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had rescued two small stages in that region, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
