Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the previous year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from performances in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her award among several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust announced it had saved several local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in the city and the other in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
