Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his new release the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages played in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his honor winnings to good deeds.
In they won the award in 1996 for their release their work, frontman the singer stated that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she split her award between a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," she shared with a publication.
In recent years, the band donated their winnings to the community center that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," said artist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in the city were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.
