Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which functions to preserve the UK's independent live music spots.
Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the past year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role local spots played in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
He also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
Fender is among several artists to give his award prize money to worthy causes.
Back when the band received the trophy in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician the artist split her bounty between a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," she told the media.
Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated singer the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved two grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
