Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to save the UK's small live music spots.
Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
He is among several artists to donate his honor winnings to charitable organizations.
In they received the award in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician she shared her award between a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had protected several small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
