Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
The star was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation supported venues that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The concept that money from performances in big venues backs the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to good deeds.
Back when Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she shared her award between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," the artist told a publication.
Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," said artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory affected another person's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had protected two small stages in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
