Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's small music venues.
He was presented with the award on mid-October as his latest record his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they won the prize in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman the singer announced that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize among a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," stated artist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.
