Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's independent live music spots.
He was presented with the award on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
The musician is among several artists to give his award funds to charitable organizations.
When they won the award in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Cocker stated that the band would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her bounty between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust shared it had saved two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.
