Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The money assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when the band received the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.
That year, artist the artist shared her bounty between a few charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients they contributed their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved several small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The first in that area and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.
