Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to protect the Britain's independent concert spaces.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the top album of the past year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to give his honor prize money to good deeds.
Back when Pulp received the award in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.
That year, artist the artist divided her award between multiple charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," the artist told outlets.
In recent years, they donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other local music groups.
Also winners that year they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the second in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.
