Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the past year.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
He also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.
In they earned the award in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer the singer stated that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
And winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted another person's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had protected several local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
