Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the United Kingdom's small music venues.
He was presented with the award on mid-October as his third album his work was named the top album of the previous year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last 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 adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped venues that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The notion that money from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
When they won the prize in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker announced that the group would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.
That year, artist the artist divided her prize across several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they contributed their funds to the community center that supported their group, as well as other local music groups.
Also winners that year M People gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT announced it had protected two small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "shares" in the venues.
