Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was given the award on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
In Pulp won the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist split her award across several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
And winners that year M People gave their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued two small stages in that region, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in the city were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
