Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.
He was given the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in big venues backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award funds to good deeds.
Back when the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her prize between several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she told the media.
In recent years, the band contributed their funds to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.
And 1994 winners M People donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," stated artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the buildings.
