Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the best record of the previous year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
These funds helped venues that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading amenities and gear that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from performances in major spaces supports the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
When the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, musician the artist shared her prize across several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she explained to a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had saved several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in that area and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the buildings.
