Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported venues that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The idea that funds from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
Back when they earned the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the act would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician the artist split her bounty between a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Winning was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and the second in that location were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
