Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
The star was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues stemming from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The idea that money from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
When Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the charity the charity.
During 2002, artist she split her prize across multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the youth organization that supported their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning affected another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.
