Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 award cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
He was presented with the award on mid-October as his new release his work was named the best record of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
He also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The money assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she split her prize across multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.
