Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the UK's independent music venues.
Fender was awarded the award on 16 October as his third album the album was named the top album of the past year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported locations that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
When Pulp won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist she divided her bounty between several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist told outlets.
Previously, the band gave their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the condition.
"The victory was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
