Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the past year.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
He also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
He is far from the only musician to give his award funds to charitable organizations.
When Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her award among a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the community center that nurtured their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and the other in the city were bought under the community ownership program, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.
