Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
He also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist numerous small stages across the UK.
The donation helped locations that were facing imminent closure due to challenges stemming from floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.
He is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to good deeds.
Back when they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity the charity.
That year, artist the artist divided her bounty between several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under local control.
The first in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
