Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
The star was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds helped venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The concept that money from shows in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
Back when they earned the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award between a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist explained to the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year the group contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the trust announced it had rescued two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
