The artist donates his £25k prize Mercury Prize to independent music venues

Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the Britain's independent concert spaces.

The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the previous year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.

In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.

The money supported locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has said.

Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

In Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their record the album, lead singer the singer stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist she divided her bounty among a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.

Two years ago, the band donated their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the condition.

"Winning was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.