Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.
Back when Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician she divided her bounty between several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Winning was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected two local spots in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
