Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the Britain's independent concert spaces.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots played in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
The donation helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations received monetary aid in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album their work, frontman the singer declared that the act would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty among multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"The victory was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under local control.
The first in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.
