Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped locations that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations received funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
Back when they won the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would give their prize money to the organization the charity.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize across multiple charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist told the media.
Two years ago, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was ample," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by placing them under local control.
One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
