Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the UK's small music venues.
Fender was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots played in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying 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 help numerous small stages across Britain.
The money assisted spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to give his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when the band won the trophy in 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize among a few organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," she explained to the media.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.
