Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award cash to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his third album the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages had in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.
These funds assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.
In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, musician she divided her bounty across a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she told the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said singer the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
