Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was named the best record of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation helped venues that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
He is far from the only musician to give his award funds to charitable organizations.
When Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
And 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in the city were purchased under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
