Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the Britain's small concert spaces.
The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has decided to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
In the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the band would donate their prize money to the charity the charity.
That year, rapper and singer she divided her bounty between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Previously, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, as well as other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," said singer Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved two local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the properties.
