Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which functions to protect the UK's small music venues.
The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the previous year.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his award funds to charitable organizations.
Back when they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the act would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize across a few charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she told outlets.
Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
