Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the UK's grassroots music venues.
He was given the award on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his live tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to donate his award prize money to good deeds.
In they won the prize in 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, musician she divided her award between several charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Previously, they contributed their prize money to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
