Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
When they received the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist the singer declared that the act would give their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award among multiple organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she explained to a publication.
Previously, the band gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners they donated their award to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the trust revealed it had saved several small stages in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "shares" in the venues.
