Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
He was given the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the past year.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The money supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
He is not the first artist to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp won the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist she shared her prize across multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
In recent years, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.
