Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award funds to good deeds.
Back when they won the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty across several organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners M People donated their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
