Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the past year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
He also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she divided her bounty between a few good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she told a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust shared it had protected several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in the city and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.
