Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has decided to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.
These funds helped locations that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to good deeds.
When Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer the artist split her award across several charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," the artist shared with the media.
Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT announced it had protected two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The first in the city and the other in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
