Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
He was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The notion that money from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
He is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
In they earned the trophy in 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer stated that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity the charity.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize across multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the youth organization that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.
And 1994 winners they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."
In the past week, the trust revealed it had rescued two local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the venues.
