Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 award winnings to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record his work was named the top album of the past year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
These funds assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that helped musicians and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is among several artists to give his award winnings to good deeds.
In the band won the award in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her award across several charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," she shared with outlets.
In recent years, they contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.
And 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the trust revealed it had saved two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
