Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to save the UK's independent music venues.
The star was awarded the award on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the top album of the previous year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function small stages had in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped locations that were confronting imminent closure due to issues stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that helped performers and fans.
"The idea that revenue from performances in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to good deeds.
When Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize between multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," the artist shared with a publication.
In recent years, the band contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients they gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."
Last week, the trust shared it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
