Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which works to save the Britain's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages had in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.
These funds assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to good deeds.
In the band received the prize in 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, artist she split her award across a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the community center that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our success affected the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who buy "stakes" in the venues.
