Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 honor cash to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the Britain's independent music venues.
The star was given the prize on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support numerous local spots across Britain.
The money supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The idea that money from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
When the band received the award in 1996 for their album the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist divided her bounty across several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," she told the media.
Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"The victory was ample," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected another person's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had saved two small stages in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.
