Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the prize on mid-October as his third album People Watching was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
The donation helped locations that were confronting imminent closure due to issues caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to charitable organizations.
Back when the band received the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer the singer announced that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty between several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," she told a publication.
Previously, they donated their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The first in Southampton and the second in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
