Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album People Watching was named the top album of the past year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
The money assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award across multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," the artist told the media.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning touched another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The first in the city and the other in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
