Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
He was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the best record of the past year.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing 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 Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The money helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in modernizing amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to contribute his award prize money to charitable organizations.
When they earned the award in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would contribute their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award across several charities, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted another person's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.
