Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages had in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
He also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous local spots across Britain.
The money helped venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The notion that funds from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
Back when the band earned the prize in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would donate their cash to the organization the charity.
In 2002, artist she shared her prize across several good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners they donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust revealed it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in Southampton and the other in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
