Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's independent music venues.
He was awarded the prize on mid-October as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
These funds helped venues that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations received funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas helps the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.
He is among several artists to give his honor prize money to good deeds.
Back when they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Cocker stated that the act would donate their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she told a publication.
Two years ago, the band donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other local music groups.
And 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Last week, the trust announced it had saved two small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the properties.
