Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the past year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages played in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
In they won the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she split her award across multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their band, alongside other local music groups.
And winners that year M People contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated singer the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
