Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the trust for venues, which functions to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages had in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The notion that money from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to good deeds.
When Pulp won the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist the singer declared that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she split her award among a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," said artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected two local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.