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Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the Britain's small live music spots.

He was given the award on mid-October as his new release the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his beginning days.

"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 grassroots venues across Britain.

These funds helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Some locations received financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.

"The concept that money from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.

Back when the band received the award in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.

That year, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty among a few charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she shared with outlets.

In recent years, they gave their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, alongside other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.

"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory affected another person's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected a couple of local spots in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

The first in that area and the second in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.