Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.
The star was given the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots played in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
The donation assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in big venues supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp won the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her bounty between multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients they contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
