Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's small music venues.
He was given the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The idea that money from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
When the band received the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the act would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
That year, musician she divided her bounty across multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT announced it had saved two grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The first in that area and the second in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
