Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's grassroots live music spots.
The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release People Watching was named the top album of the past year.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that money from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their release their work, vocalist the singer stated that the act would give their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist shared her prize among several organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
In recent years, the band donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was ample," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had protected several small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
