Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which works to save the UK's independent concert spaces.
He was given the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was declared the top album of the previous year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The donation supported locations that were facing possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The concept that money from shows in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her award between several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had saved two local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who purchase "shares" in the properties.
