Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the MVT, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role local spots had in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in upgrading amenities and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
He is far from the only musician to donate his award funds to good deeds.
When Pulp won the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the charity the charity.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite split her prize across a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," she told outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the youth organization that supported their group, as well as other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," said artist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Last week, the MVT announced it had saved several small stages in that region, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and supporters who acquire "shares" in the properties.
