Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.
The star was awarded the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
The money helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to good deeds.
When they received the prize in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, artist she divided her award across a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," she shared with outlets.
In recent years, the band gave their prize money to the local youth club that developed their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year they contributed their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said singer Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued two local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
