Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 award prize money to the MVT, which operates to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was given the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role local spots played in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
The money assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his award prize money to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman Cocker stated that the group would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," she explained to outlets.
Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
