Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the best record of the past year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to good deeds.
In the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize among several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners they donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched the lives of others."
Recently, the trust announced it had rescued two local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
