Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages had in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that helped performers and audiences.
"The concept that money from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
Back when Pulp earned the trophy in 1996 for their album the album, vocalist the singer stated that the band would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she split her bounty among multiple charities, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she explained to a publication.
In recent years, the band gave their winnings to the community center that supported their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Winning was ample," remarked artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.
