Sam Fender gives twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to independent concert halls
The star has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.
The star was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the previous year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their release their work, frontman Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty across a few organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their group, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected two local spots in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the properties.