Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the Britain's independent live music spots.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the top album of the past year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his live tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The notion that funds from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
In the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their winnings to the organization the charity.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty across a few charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the youth organization that supported their group, as well as other local music groups.
And winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
