Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds supported venues that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their release their work, vocalist the singer stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity the charity.
During 2002, artist the artist split her award across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.
"The victory was ample," said singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in that area and the second in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
