Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist numerous small stages across the UK.
These funds helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that helped performers and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
He is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
In the band won the prize in the year 1996 for their album the album, frontman the singer announced that the group would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she shared her bounty between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist explained to the media.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year they contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.
