The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped locations that were facing imminent closure due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from performances in major spaces backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.
Back when they earned the award in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the act would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her prize between multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," she shared with outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.
"Winning was ample," stated artist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected a couple of local spots in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
One venue in that area and the other in that location were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
