Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.
He was given the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
When Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their prize money to the charity the charity.
That year, musician the artist divided her bounty among several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
Last week, the trust shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under local control.
One venue in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.
