Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
He was presented with the award on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from performances in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.
The musician is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
In Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.
That year, artist she shared her bounty across a few organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that developed their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
The first in Southampton and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
