Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award prize money to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages played in his early career.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and fans.
"The idea that money from shows in big venues backs the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer stated that the band would donate their cash to the charity War Child.
That year, musician she divided her prize across multiple good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist told outlets.
Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other local music groups.
And winners that year they contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
