Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his award prize money to worthy causes.
When they received the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their prize money to the organization the charity.
During 2002, artist the artist split her prize between a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year M People contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The first in the city and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.
