Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the UK's independent live music spots.
He was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages played in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have shut down – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
He also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
The money assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and gear that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to donate his award prize money to worthy causes.
When Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their record their work, vocalist the singer stated that the act would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, musician the artist divided her prize across a few organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," the artist told the media.
Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the youth organization that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had protected a couple of small stages in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.
