Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds helped locations that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues received funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues helps the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected two grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the second in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
