Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from shows in big venues backs the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
Back when the band earned the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the band would give their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her prize between several charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.
