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Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the Britain's independent live music spots.

He was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the past year.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.

"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.

Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

He is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.

When they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer she split her bounty between multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with the media.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And winners that year they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the disease.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted another person's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.