Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
He was given the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The donation helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when the band won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the organization the charity.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her bounty between several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners they donated their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT announced it had protected two local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the properties.
