Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was given the prize on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
The donation supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The notion that revenue from shows in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
He is not the first artist to donate his award funds to charitable organizations.
In Pulp received the prize in the year 1996 for their album the album, frontman the singer announced that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite shared her award across a few good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she shared with outlets.
Previously, the band contributed their funds to the community center that developed their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year they donated their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had saved several local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by a national body and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
