Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots played in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts such as the band Pulp, 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 admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, frontman Cocker declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
That year, artist the artist split her bounty across multiple good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
In recent years, the band donated their prize money to the youth organization that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into local control.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the venues.
