Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to protect the Britain's small live music spots.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was named the best record of the past year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots played in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
These funds helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
Back when they won the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist the singer stated that the group would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her bounty across several charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," she told the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked vocalist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in the city and the other in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
