Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
The money helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The notion that revenue from performances in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
He is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to worthy causes.
When the band won the trophy in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," the artist told the media.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the community center that developed their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year they gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," stated artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted another person's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved several small stages in that region, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in that area and the other in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
