Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor cash to the trust for venues, which works to save the UK's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the award on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The notion that funds from concerts in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.
Back when the band won the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her bounty between several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," the artist shared with the media.
Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, as well as other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected two small stages in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in the city and The Croft in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
