Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to protect the Britain's independent live music spots.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots played in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his honor prize money to worthy causes.
When they earned the award in 1996 for their record the album, frontman Cocker stated that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, musician the artist divided her award between several organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.
And winners that year M People contributed their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Last week, the trust shared it had saved two small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in that area and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
