Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which functions to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the past year.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
When Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist the singer declared that the band would donate their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite split her prize among multiple good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she explained to the media.
Previously, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," stated vocalist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.
