Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.
The star was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity the charity.
That year, artist she divided her award among a few charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist explained to the media.
Previously, they contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year M People donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," said artist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
