Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
The star was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the top album of the past year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across the UK.
The donation helped spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer the singer announced that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize between a few good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," the artist told the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that supported their band, as well as other local music groups.
And 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," said artist Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in that area and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership program, which is backed by a national body and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.
