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Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.

The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

The donation helped spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.

"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

He is far from the only musician to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.

In they earned the trophy in 1996 for their album the album, vocalist the singer stated that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer she split her prize across several good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she told the media.

Previously, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.

The first in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.