Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous small stages across Britain.
These funds supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received monetary aid in improving facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to give his honor funds to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the charity the charity.
That year, musician the artist divided her award across multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in the city and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.
