Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
He was presented with the award on mid-October as his new release his work was named the top album of the previous year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.
He is far from the only musician to contribute his award prize money to good deeds.
When they received the prize in the year 1996 for their release their work, frontman the singer stated that the act would give their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist the artist split her bounty between a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," she explained to outlets.
In recent years, they gave their funds to the community center that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," said singer the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the buildings.
