Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and audiences.
"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
Fender is not the first artist to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist split her bounty among multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist explained to the media.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they gave their award to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," said singer Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued several local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
