Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped venues that were facing possible closure due to issues caused by flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The idea that funds from concerts in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
In the band earned the prize in 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the band would donate their cash to the organization the charity.
That year, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize between several organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she shared with the media.
Previously, the band gave their prize money to the community center that supported their group, as well as other local music groups.
And winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success touched another person's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had saved two local spots in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in the city and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the venues.
