Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.
Fender was given the award on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots played in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous local spots across the UK.
The money helped locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The idea that money from concerts in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his honor winnings to worthy causes.
In the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer the artist shared her award among a few charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she explained to a publication.
Previously, they gave their prize money to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated singer Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in the city and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by a national body and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
