Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
When they won the award in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist the singer stated that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, musician she split her award between multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.
In recent years, the band donated their winnings to the local youth club that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
And winners that year they contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected two local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by a national body and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.
