Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
He was given the cheque on 16 October as his latest record his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues received funding support in improving amenities and gear that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to worthy causes.
In the band received the award in 1996 for their record their work, frontman the singer stated that the band would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her award among several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," the artist told the media.
In recent years, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that developed their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT announced it had protected several small stages in that region, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
