Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the UK's grassroots live music spots.
He was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was named the best record of the past year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds assisted locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from performances in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.
He is not the first artist to give his award prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when the band earned the prize in 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would donate their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, artist she divided her bounty among multiple good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she told a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Also winners that year M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
