Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that money from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
He is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
When they won the award in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist the singer announced that the band would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the community center that supported their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year M People donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved two local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the properties.
