Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
The star was awarded the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages played in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The money assisted locations that were facing possible closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that money from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to give his award prize money to good deeds.
Back when Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among a few charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT announced it had protected two local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
