Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the Britain's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The donation helped venues that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from concerts in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer declared that the group would donate their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her prize across several good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she shared with outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year the group gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
