Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.
The star was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to support numerous local spots across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to issues arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp won the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her prize across multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," the artist told the media.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year the group gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued several small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
