Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which works to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
He was given the award on mid-October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
The donation assisted locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving facilities and gear that helped artists and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
He is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to good deeds.
When the band earned the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among a few good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners M People contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
