Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his new release his work was named the best record of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots played in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
He also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
The donation supported spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in big venues backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
Back when they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, musician she shared her bounty across several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Also winners that year they contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked artist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory touched another person's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued two small stages in that region, by placing them under local control.
The first in that area and the other in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
