Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was given the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
He also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
The donation helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties caused by water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that helped artists and fans.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.
The musician is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
When they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Cocker declared that the group would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award across several good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that supported their group, alongside other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had saved several small stages in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
