Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's independent live music spots.
Fender was presented with the award on mid-October as his third album People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
He also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The money helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that money from performances in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
In they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician she divided her award among multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
In recent years, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year the group gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.
"The victory was ample," remarked artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
