Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's small live music spots.
The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that helped musicians and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor winnings to good deeds.
Back when they received the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, artist she split her bounty among multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 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 a publication.
Two years ago, the band donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," stated singer Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in that area and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
