Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.
He was awarded the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was declared the top album of the past year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
The money supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that helped artists and fans.
"The notion that money from performances in large arenas backs the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
In they earned the prize in the year 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in the city were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by a national body and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
