Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the UK's independent live music spots.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces received funding support in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from shows in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to worthy causes.
Back when they won the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the group would give their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist shared her prize across several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she explained to a publication.
In recent years, they contributed their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year the group donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Winning was ample," said singer Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in the city and The Croft in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the properties.
