Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album People Watching was named the top album of the past year.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
The money assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from performances in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their record their work, vocalist the singer stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her bounty among multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she explained to a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the local youth club that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had saved several local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.
