Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's small music venues.
The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was chosen as the best record of the past year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
He also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The money assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations received monetary aid in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The notion that money from concerts in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his award prize money to good deeds.
When Pulp earned the prize in 1996 for their release the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would donate their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," she told a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the condition.
"The victory was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved a couple of local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.
