Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages had in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp won the award in the mid-90s for their release the album, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist she shared her prize between multiple good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Previously, the band gave their winnings to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners they contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"The victory was ample," remarked artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had saved several small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.
