Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his new release his work was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.
These funds assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp earned the prize in the year 1996 for their album their work, vocalist the singer announced that the band would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite shared her award among a few charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Previously, they contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was ample," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in the city and the other in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who buy "stakes" in the venues.
