Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.
The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was named the best record of the past year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
He also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous local spots across Britain.
These funds supported locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
In they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman the singer stated that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
That year, rapper and singer she shared her bounty across several charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," said singer Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."
Last week, the MVT announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
