Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the UK's small music venues.
He was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record his work was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots played in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in modernizing amenities and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The idea that funds from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
He is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to charitable organizations.
In the band won the award in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her bounty across multiple charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, the band donated their winnings to the community center that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners M People gave their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the condition.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched another person's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had protected several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "shares" in the properties.
