Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the UK's independent live music spots.
He was presented with the award on mid-October as his third album his work was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
He also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
He is not the first artist to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
In the band received the prize in 1996 for their release the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would donate their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician the artist divided her bounty across multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Previously, they donated their funds to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected two small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and the other in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.
