Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the MVT, which operates to preserve the UK's small concert spaces.
The star was presented with the award on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the previous year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.
The money assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.
When the band earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the organization the charity.
In 2002, musician she divided her award among several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she shared with outlets.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that developed their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they gave their award to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected two local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
