Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was declared the top album of the past year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to give his award funds to worthy causes.
In the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman Cocker stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, musician the artist shared her bounty across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
Previously, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
