Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the UK's grassroots live music spots.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was named the top album of the past year.
He has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to good deeds.
When the band earned the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her award across several organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated singer the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected several small stages in that region, by placing them under local control.
The first in that area and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
