Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which operates to protect the UK's grassroots music venues.
He was given the prize on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots had in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous local spots across the UK.
The money assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from performances in major spaces supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to worthy causes.
In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman the singer stated that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award among a few charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two local spots in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.
