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Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which works to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.

Fender was awarded the award on October 16 as his third album his work was named the best record of the past year.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

The donation helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.

Back when Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, frontman the singer stated that the group would give their winnings to the organization the charity.

In 2002, musician she shared her award across several charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she told outlets.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.

And the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

The first in the city and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.