Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent live music spots.
He was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, raising over £100k on his live tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
The donation assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
Back when the band won the award in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award among several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by placing them under local control.
One venue in the city and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
