Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.
Back when the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their release the album, vocalist the singer announced that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist she split her prize across multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched the lives of others."
Recently, the trust revealed it had rescued several local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by a national body and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
