Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's independent live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
He also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.
These funds helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from performances in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
He is among several artists to contribute his award funds to good deeds.
In they earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their album their work, frontman Cocker declared that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award among a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," the artist shared with the media.
Previously, they contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had protected a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
