Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent music venues.
He was given the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the past year.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they earned the award in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would donate their cash to the organization the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Two years ago, they gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners they donated their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT announced it had saved a couple of small stages in the South East, by placing them under local control.
One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.
