Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.
The donation helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in improving facilities and gear that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The concept that money from performances in major spaces backs the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award prize money to charitable organizations.
In the band received the trophy in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer stated that the band would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she shared her bounty between a few organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she explained to outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"The victory was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
