Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the Britain's small concert spaces.
The star was given the prize on mid-October as his new release the album was named the top album of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
He also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
The donation helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
The musician is among several artists to donate his honor prize money to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would donate their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician the artist divided her prize across multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"Winning was ample," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched another person's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had rescued several local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in that area and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.
