Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's independent live music spots.
The star was given the award on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
These funds helped venues that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues received financial assistance in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
In Pulp received the prize in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, artist she shared her bounty among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she explained to a publication.
Previously, the band gave their winnings to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year M People donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of small stages in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
