Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.
The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was declared the best record of the previous year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots had in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
He also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
When they received the award in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would donate their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, artist she divided her award among a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.
Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
And winners that year M People donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was ample," stated singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Last week, the trust revealed it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in the city and the other in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.
