Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's small live music spots.
He was presented with the award on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation helped venues that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The notion that money from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.
In the band won the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the band would give their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize across several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist told the media.
In recent years, the band gave their prize money to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners M People gave their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had saved two small stages in that region, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
