Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which operates to protect the Britain's independent concert spaces.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
When the band won the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their winnings to the charity the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award across multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their act, as well as other local music groups.
And 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the properties.
