Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's independent concert spaces.
He was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists like the band 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 goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues helps the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
He is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to worthy causes.
When they received the award in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, artist the artist divided her prize between multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the community center that developed their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year M People donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
