Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the MVT, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was given the award on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds helped venues that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and gear that helped musicians and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In the band received the award in 1996 for their album the album, frontman the singer announced that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, artist she divided her bounty between multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she explained to outlets.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in that area and the other in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.
