Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.
The star was given the prize on 16 October as his third album the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
When Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, frontman the singer announced that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her bounty across several charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist told outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," said singer Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
