Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's independent live music spots.
The star was awarded the award on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots had in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to give his honor funds to good deeds.
Back when they received the prize in 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
That year, rapper and singer she divided her prize across a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the local youth club that supported their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year M People contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted another person's life."
In the past week, the trust revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The first in the city and The Croft in that location were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.
