Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was awarded the award on mid-October as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from performances in big venues backs the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
When they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she divided her award between a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Previously, they contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "stakes" in the properties.
