Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.
The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The idea that money from performances in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to donate his award funds to good deeds.
Back when they won the prize in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker declared that the act would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician she shared her bounty among multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," the artist told a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Also winners that year the group donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had saved two local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
