Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the UK's small music venues.
The star was given the prize on mid-October as his new release People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
He also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The money supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
Back when the band earned the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the act would give their winnings to the organization the charity.
In 2002, artist the artist shared her bounty among a few organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
In recent years, they gave their funds to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year they contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had saved two local spots in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
