Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was given the award on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across Britain.
The donation supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
Back when the band earned the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, vocalist the singer stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician the artist shared her prize across multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist explained to a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the community center that supported their act, as well as other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients they contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning touched another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The first in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.
