Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the prize on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received funding support in improving amenities and gear that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to good deeds.
In Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer declared that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her prize among several good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
In recent years, they gave their prize money to the youth organization that supported their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had saved several grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
