Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
In the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the charity the charity.
During 2002, rapper and singer she divided her bounty between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
