Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's small music venues.
Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was named the best record of the past year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous local spots across Britain.
These funds assisted spaces that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from concerts in big venues supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to good deeds.
Back when they received the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the organization the charity.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the community center that developed their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was ample," stated vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Last week, the trust shared it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
