Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
He also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
He is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they received the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Cocker announced that the group would contribute their prize money to the charity the charity.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her bounty across multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," the artist told outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners M People contributed their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
