Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
He was given the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the previous year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
The money supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to issues caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they received the prize in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer stated that the band would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award between multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist explained to outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.
"The victory was ample," stated vocalist Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had protected two local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in that area and the second in that location were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.