Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's small live music spots.
Fender was given the award on October 16 as his third album the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots had in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The money supported locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
Back when the band won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman the singer declared that the band would give their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist split her prize across several good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," the artist explained to the media.
Two years ago, they donated their prize money to the community center that developed their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved two local spots in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
