Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which functions to save the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
The star was presented with the award on mid-October as his latest record his work was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots played in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The notion that money from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer the singer stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty across multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected another person's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in the city and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
