Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was given the award on 16 October as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages had in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across the UK.
The donation supported spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.
"The notion that money from performances in big venues supports the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to charitable organizations.
Back when the band received the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she explained to outlets.
Two years ago, the band donated their prize money to the community center that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was ample," stated vocalist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in the city and the other in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
