Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's small live music spots.
He was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations received monetary aid in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they won the prize in 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer declared that the group would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
That year, musician the artist divided her award among a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," she shared with outlets.
In recent years, they gave their prize money to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved several small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.
