Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
The star was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots played in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
The donation helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Other venues received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
When they won the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity the charity.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her bounty across a few charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she told a publication.
Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the community center that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of small stages in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.
