Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to preserve the UK's small live music spots.
He was awarded the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages played in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
The money helped spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
He is among several artists to donate his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
In they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer announced that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her bounty among a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," the artist explained to the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that developed their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"The victory was ample," said artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued several small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in Southampton and the other in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
