Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was given the award on 16 October as his new release People Watching was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving amenities and gear that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize across several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she shared with the media.
In recent years, they gave their winnings to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.
"The victory was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success affected the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The first in the city and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.
