Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was declared the best record of the past year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
He also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous small stages across the UK.
These funds helped spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues arising from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from performances in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they won the award in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would give their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her bounty across a few charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," she explained to outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.
