Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's small music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record his work was chosen as the best record of the past year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
He also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The money assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that money from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.
When they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist she divided her prize across a few charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success affected the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.
