Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's small concert spaces.
He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported venues that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from shows in big venues backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
The musician is not the first artist to give his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
In they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, frontman the singer declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, artist she divided her prize between a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that developed their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had protected several small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.
