Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's independent live music spots.
The star was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots had in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
These funds supported spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
When they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she shared her award across multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
