Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was given the award on mid-October as his third album his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
He also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The notion that money from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
He is not the first artist to give his award winnings to good deeds.
When they won the award in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she divided her award between several good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist explained to the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the community center that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners M People donated their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our success affected the lives of others."
Last week, the trust shared it had rescued several local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the properties.
