Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.
The money helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that money from performances in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
The musician is among several artists to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when the band earned the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, musician she divided her prize across several charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
