Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award cash to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped venues that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations received monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The concept that money from concerts in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize winnings to good deeds.
When they earned the prize in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award across multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, they gave their prize money to the community center that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.
