Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the award on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots had in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
He also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The money assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained funding support in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
He is not the first artist to give his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp won the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty across a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," the artist explained to outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year M People contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," stated artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the properties.
