Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
He was presented with the award on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages had in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
Back when they received the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she split her bounty between multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," the artist explained to outlets.
Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
And winners that year M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued several local spots in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
