Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the prize on 16 October as his new release his work was named the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
He also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
The donation supported spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his award prize money to worthy causes.
When Pulp earned the prize in 1996 for their record their work, lead singer the singer announced that the group would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician the artist split her prize among a few charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the community center that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said singer the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.
