Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
Fender was given the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the previous year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.
The donation supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The idea that revenue from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In the band won the trophy in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, musician she divided her award across several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to a publication.
Previously, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected another person's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the properties.
