Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's independent concert spaces.
He was given the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to give his honor funds to good deeds.
In they won the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize among several organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
In recent years, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
