Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to help numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
The money assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
He is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the award in 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize across a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she explained to a publication.
Two years ago, they contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.
And 1994 winners they gave their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the disease.
"Winning was ample," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued several local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in that area and the second in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
