Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
These funds assisted spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The notion that money from performances in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, frontman the singer stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist the artist shared her award among a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Previously, the band contributed their funds to the community center that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners M People contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had saved two local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
