The musician gives his £25k prize award winnings to independent music venues
The artist has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's small music venues.
The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
These funds supported locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues received financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that funds from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to charitable organizations.
When the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, musician she shared her bounty between several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners M People gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and the other in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "stakes" in the venues.
