Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's small live music spots.
He was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the past year.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed 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 smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his live tour to support numerous small stages across Britain.
These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
When the band won the prize in 1996 for their release their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would donate their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," she told the media.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
