Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that helped artists and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
When they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman the singer announced that the band would give their cash to the charity War Child.
That year, musician she divided her prize among multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," the artist told a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year M People gave their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had protected several small stages in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in the city and The Croft in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
