Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the UK's independent music venues.
He was given the prize on mid-October as his third album People Watching was declared the top album of the past year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted funding support in improving amenities and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The concept that revenue from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
When Pulp earned the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between several good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.
And 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," said vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
