Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots live music spots.
He was awarded the prize on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.
The donation supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
The musician is among several artists to donate his honor prize money to good deeds.
In Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the band would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist she split her award between multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Previously, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success touched the lives of others."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected a couple of small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in the city and the second in that location were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
