Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the Britain's small live music spots.
He was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages had in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.
These funds assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that helped artists and audiences.
"The notion that money from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
He is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, lead singer the singer stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.
During 2002, artist the artist shared her prize across a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.
And winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," said artist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had saved two grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The first in that area and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
