Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the UK's grassroots music venues.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his new release People Watching was named the top album of the past year.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
The money helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and audiences.
"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
When the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist the singer stated that the group would give their cash to the charity the charity.
During 2002, artist the artist split her prize across several organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist told the media.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year the group donated their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Winning was ample," said artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Last week, the trust shared it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The first in Southampton and the other in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
