Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which works to save the UK's small live music spots.
He was given the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported venues that were facing imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In the band earned the award in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the act would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite shared her award across several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist told a publication.
Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.
