Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's grassroots live music spots.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
The donation helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
He is not the first artist to donate his award funds to charitable organizations.
When they won the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her award between a few organizations, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," said vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in the city and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
