Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
He also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges arising from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his honor winnings to good deeds.
Back when the band won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician the artist shared her prize among multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she told the media.
Previously, the band gave their funds to the youth organization that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in the city were purchased under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
