Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's small live music spots.
He was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The money assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The idea that money from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
In they received the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the organization the charity.
In 2002, musician she split her bounty between several organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist told the media.
Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted another person's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had rescued several small stages in that region, by placing them under local control.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
