Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the prize on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the best record of the past year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his live tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in modernizing amenities and gear that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is not the first artist to give his honor funds to worthy causes.
In the band received the award in 1996 for their record their work, frontman Cocker declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician she split her prize among several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had saved two local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the venues.
