Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record his work was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds assisted venues that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.
He is not the first artist to give his Mercury Prize winnings to charitable organizations.
In the band earned the prize in 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the act would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist she shared her award across a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," the artist told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the community center that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
