Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages played in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The donation supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.
In they received the trophy in 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would give their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her prize between several charities, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist explained to outlets.
In recent years, they gave their funds to the local youth club that developed their act, as well as other local music groups.
And 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
