Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
He was given the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to issues caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The concept that revenue from performances in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
In Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, vocalist the singer announced that the group would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she divided her award between several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she shared with the media.
In recent years, they donated their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust shared it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
