Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
He was given the award on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role local spots had in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were confronting imminent closure due to issues caused by water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they earned the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist she split her award between a few organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she explained to the media.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
Last week, the trust announced it had saved a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the second in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
