Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted funding support in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The idea that money from shows in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
Back when Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their winnings to the organization the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award between a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," she explained to the media.
In recent years, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their group, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated artist Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the trust revealed it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in that area and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
