Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's small music venues.
The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was named the best record of the past year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer Cocker announced that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist divided her award among several organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year they donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the trust shared it had saved two small stages in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
