Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
The star was given the prize on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the best record of the past year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is among several artists to give his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
In the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their winnings to the charity War Child.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her award among several organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," the artist explained to a publication.
Previously, the band gave their prize money to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the trust revealed it had rescued two small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
