Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which works to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.
He was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
He also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The concept that funds from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
He is among several artists to give his award winnings to good deeds.
In the band earned the award in 1996 for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between multiple good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist explained to the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
And 1994 winners M People donated their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT announced it had saved two grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
