Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the prize on 16 October as his new release his work was named the top album of the past year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages played in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in modernizing amenities and gear that helped artists and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when the band won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Previously, they gave their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success affected the lives of others."
Last week, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
