Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the Britain's small music venues.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
He has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations received funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to donate his award prize money to worthy causes.
Back when the band earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would contribute their winnings to the charity the charity.
In 2002, artist the artist split her award across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
And winners that year they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in that area and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
