Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The idea that funds from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.
The musician is among several artists to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they received the award in 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the act would donate their cash to the organization the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her award among a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that developed their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People contributed their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had saved several grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
