Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release his work was named the best record of the last 12 months.
He has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.
The musician is not the first artist to give his award funds to good deeds.
When Pulp received the award in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman Cocker announced that the act would donate their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize among several good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she explained to the media.
In recent years, the band donated their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Winning was ample," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.
