Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's small concert spaces.
The star was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
He also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The concept that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
Fender is among several artists to give his award winnings to worthy causes.
When they won the trophy in 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her award between multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
Previously, the band donated their winnings to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," said artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
