Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his new release his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that money from concerts in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
He is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
When the band earned the award in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer the singer declared that the band would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award across several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she shared with the media.
Previously, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust shared it had saved a couple of local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
