Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's small music venues.
The star was awarded the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and audiences.
"The idea that money from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp earned the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the group would give their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her prize between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Previously, the band gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had saved two small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the other in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.
