Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which works to save the UK's small live music spots.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was declared the best record of the past year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award funds to good deeds.
Back when the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her award among multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted another person's life."
Last week, the MVT announced it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in the city and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.
