Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to preserve the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was given the award on 16 October as his third album People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots played in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician the artist divided her award across multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist told the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory touched another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
