Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's grassroots music venues.
Fender was given the prize on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the past year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.
"The notion that money from shows in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his award funds to charitable organizations.
In they received the prize in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her award among multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she explained to outlets.
Previously, the band gave their prize money to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
