Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's small music venues.
The star was given the prize on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the best record of the past year.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The money supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues arising from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is not the first artist to give his honor funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, artist she shared her award between multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she explained to a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners they gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued several small stages in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
