Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
He is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
In Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award across several charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.
Two years ago, the band gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
