Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the MVT, which functions to preserve the UK's independent music venues.
He was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The concept that revenue from shows in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to worthy causes.
When Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted another person's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
