Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to save the Britain's independent music venues.
Fender was given the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots had in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous small stages across Britain.
The money supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped artists and audiences.
"The idea that money from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to good deeds.
Back when the band won the award in 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.
That year, musician she shared her bounty among a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," she told the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
Last week, the trust shared it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in that area and the other in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
