Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which functions to save the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
These funds assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The concept that money from shows in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to charitable organizations.
When the band received the award in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Cocker declared that the act would give their winnings to the organization the charity.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her award among a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," said singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted another person's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected several local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The first in that area and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.
