Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which works to save the Britain's small live music spots.
He was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his honor winnings to good deeds.
In they received the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist shared her award across a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist told a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," said vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted another person's life."
In the past week, the trust announced it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in that area and the second in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by a national body and music fans who buy "stakes" in the venues.
