Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's small music venues.
He was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his recent tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.
When Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, artist she shared her award across a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," she explained to a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," said artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected another person's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued several small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and the other in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the properties.
