Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the UK's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the past year.
He has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The money helped venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations received funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The idea that funds from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
He is not the first artist to give his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp won the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, frontman Cocker announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist she split her award between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," she shared with a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had protected a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and the second in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.
