Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the prize on mid-October as his latest record his work was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots played in his early career.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
When they received the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman the singer declared that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her award between a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave 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 a publication.
Previously, they gave their funds to the youth organization that developed their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated vocalist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The first in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
