Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent music venues.
Fender was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
In Pulp earned the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, musician she split her award among multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Previously, the band donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had protected two local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The first in the city and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
