Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
In Pulp won the award in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer the singer announced that the group would give their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her award between multiple charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a grand to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.
And winners that year they gave their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had protected two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the second in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
