Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 honor cash to the MVT, which operates to save the UK's grassroots music venues.
He was awarded the award on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the top album of the past year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation supported venues that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading amenities and gear that helped performers and audiences.
"The concept that money from concerts in major spaces supports the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to contribute his honor funds to charitable organizations.
In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer announced that the group would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.
In 2002, musician she divided her award across multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," the artist explained to outlets.
In recent years, the band gave their prize money to the community center that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," said singer Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the other in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "stakes" in the properties.
