Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's small music venues.
The star was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots played in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.
The money helped locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that helped artists and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
In Pulp received the award in the mid-90s for their album their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would contribute their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize among a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they gave their funds to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Also winners that year they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted another person's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "shares" in the buildings.
