Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to save the United Kingdom's small music venues.
The star was given the prize on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation assisted locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations received funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and fans.
"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her bounty across multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," the artist told the media.
Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners M People contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Last week, the trust shared it had saved two local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
