Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's small live music spots.
Fender was given the award on mid-October as his new release his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
The money assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and fans.
"The concept that money from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to charitable organizations.
When they earned the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist split her prize across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected several small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the other in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
