Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 award prize money to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.
He was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
He is far from the only musician to donate his honor prize money to worthy causes.
In they received the trophy in 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their cash to the charity War Child.
That year, artist the artist divided her bounty among several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Two years ago, they donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their band, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners they donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched another person's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had rescued two local spots in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the venues.
