Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's independent music venues.
He was awarded the award on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
He has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation assisted venues that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues received funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his award funds to good deeds.
Back when Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the group would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician she split her prize between multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"The victory was quite enough," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in the city and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
