Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was given the award on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was declared the best record of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
In they earned the award in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist divided her bounty across a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners the group donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Winning was ample," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
