Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which functions to preserve the Britain's small music venues.
Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
Back when Pulp earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the band would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.
That year, rapper and singer she split her bounty across multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist told outlets.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners M People donated their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust announced it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in the city and The Croft in that location were bought under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
