Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's independent concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots played in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
The money assisted locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and gear that helped performers and audiences.
"The concept that money from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
When Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman the singer announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her award between multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
In recent years, the band gave their funds to the community center that developed their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected two grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in the city and The Croft in the city were purchased under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
