Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.
The star was awarded the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is not the first artist to contribute his honor prize money to worthy causes.
In Pulp earned the prize in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician she shared her prize across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," the artist explained to outlets.
Two years ago, the band donated their funds to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," stated artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and the other in Bristol were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.
