Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
The money assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
When they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her bounty between several organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, the band gave their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients M People donated their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.
