Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his live tour to support numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations received funding support in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.
"The notion that funds from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp won the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under local control.
One venue in the city and the second in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
