Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.
Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The donation supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from concerts in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
He is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
In they received the prize in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman Cocker stated that the band would give their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award between several charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.
Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year they donated their award to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Winning was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in the city and The Croft in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.
