Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's independent concert spaces.
Fender was given the prize on mid-October as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the past year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from shows in major spaces supports the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In the band won the award in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her prize among several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in that area and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "stakes" in the properties.
