Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues obtained funding support in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from performances in big venues backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.
In Pulp won the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, vocalist the singer announced that the act would give their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize between a few charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she shared with a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year they contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
One venue in the city and The Croft in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the venues.
