Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the best record of the previous year.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The money supported locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when the band received the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she divided her bounty among a few good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist explained to outlets.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT announced it had rescued several small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
