Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the Britain's grassroots live music spots.
The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces backs the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
He is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
When Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her bounty across a few charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Two years ago, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved two local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
