Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the Britain's small concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation assisted venues that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their album their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, artist she shared her bounty among several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the community center that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The first in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
