Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to preserve the Britain's grassroots live music spots.
The star was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages had in his early career.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped locations that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The concept that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.
When they received the prize in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist the singer stated that the act would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her prize among a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the community center that supported their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked singer Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
