Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
He was given the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
He also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to issues stemming from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and fans.
"The idea that money from performances in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
Back when they won the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, vocalist the singer announced that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist she shared her award between multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," said artist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved two small stages in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.
