Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.
Fender was given the award on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition 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 performances I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped venues that were confronting imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations received financial assistance in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
Back when they earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her prize across a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group gave their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had saved several small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and the other in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
