Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the MVT, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The idea that money from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
He is not the first artist to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker declared that the band would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her prize across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she told outlets.
Previously, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the properties.
