Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's small music venues.
The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The money assisted locations that were facing possible closure due to difficulties caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the charity the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer she divided her prize between multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.
Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.
