Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
Fender was awarded the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
In the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the band would give their winnings to the organization the charity.
During 2002, artist the artist split her bounty among several organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the condition.
"The victory was ample," remarked artist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued several local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the properties.
