Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, 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 prices, which supports independent venues.
He also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported venues that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The concept that funds from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In they received the trophy in 1996 for their release the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize across multiple organizations, including 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 trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist told the media.
Two years ago, they donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," said artist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success affected the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
