Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds assisted spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their record the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist divided her prize across a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the community center that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued several small stages in that region, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
