Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 honor cash to the MVT, which functions to save the UK's grassroots live music spots.
He was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.
The money assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The idea that revenue from performances in big venues backs the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award funds to good deeds.
When they received the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several organizations, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist told outlets.
Previously, they gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the disease.
"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT announced it had protected two small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.
