Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
The star was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
He has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to help 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to give his award prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman Cocker declared that the group would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her award between a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
Previously, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their band, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners they contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in the city were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.
