Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's small music venues.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
When Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist shared her award among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," she told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, alongside other local music groups.
And winners that year the group contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
