Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
The star was given the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots had in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
These funds helped locations that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
In they earned the award in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer the singer stated that the group would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist she divided her bounty between several organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners they gave their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
