Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the Britain's small music venues.
He was presented with the award on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The money assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues received funding support in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
When the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would give their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician the artist divided her award among several organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," the artist told a publication.
Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the community center that supported their group, alongside other local music groups.
And winners that year M People contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
