Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's independent music venues.
Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages played in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation supported spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
Fender is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
Back when Pulp earned the prize in the year 1996 for their album their work, vocalist the singer stated that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her award among several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," said artist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
