Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.
The star was given the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the past year.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The money assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from performances in major spaces backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to good deeds.
Back when Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer stated that the group would donate their winnings to the charity the charity.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched another person's life."
Last week, the MVT announced it had protected two grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the second in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the properties.