Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
He was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages had in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues arising from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they received the prize in the year 1996 for their album the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician she shared her award between several charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they gave their prize money to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated singer the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.
