Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
He was awarded the award on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across the UK.
These funds helped locations that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.
When Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer the singer stated that the act would give their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist she shared her award among multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she explained to outlets.
In recent years, they contributed their winnings to the community center that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The first in the city and the other in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
