Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which functions to save the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his new release People Watching was named the top album of the past year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The concept that funds from performances in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is among several artists to give his honor funds to good deeds.
In Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, artist the artist shared her bounty across a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
Two years ago, the band gave their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted another person's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
