Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which operates to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.
The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release his work was named the top album of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The money helped venues that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.
When Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their prize money to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her award across a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
