Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's independent music venues.
He was awarded the award on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that money from performances in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
He is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.
In the band won the award in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would give their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her bounty between several organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist told outlets.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked singer Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.
