Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and audiences.
"The idea that money from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
He is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
Back when they received the prize in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer stated that the act would give their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist divided her award across several organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.
Two years ago, they donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.
Also winners that year the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Winning was ample," remarked artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected two local spots in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in the city and the other in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
