Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
The donation supported spaces that were confronting possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
When they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she divided her award across a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," she explained to the media.
Two years ago, they donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved two grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The first in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
