Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k award cash to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.
The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
These funds supported spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received funding support in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
He is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp won the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization the charity.
In 2002, artist she split her prize across several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.
Two years ago, they donated their prize money to the community center that developed their group, alongside other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked artist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved several local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in the city and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.
