Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the past year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
These funds helped venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
In they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize among multiple good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Two years ago, they donated their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated singer the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
