Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the Britain's independent live music spots.
Fender was given the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
He also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
These funds supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The idea that money from performances in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his award funds to worthy causes.
When they won the award in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award across multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist explained to outlets.
Previously, the band donated their funds to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
