Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots played in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to challenges stemming from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.
"The notion that money from shows in major spaces supports the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to good deeds.
Back when they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her prize between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she explained to a publication.
In recent years, they contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched another person's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the second in the city were purchased under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
