Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the best record of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.
The money supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, lead singer the singer stated that the group would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist she shared her bounty among multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients M People donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved several small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
