Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the Britain's independent music venues.
The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces received funding support in improving facilities and gear that helped musicians and audiences.
"The idea that money from performances in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor winnings to good deeds.
In the band earned the award in the mid-90s for their release the album, frontman the singer declared that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty across multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she told a publication.
In recent years, the band gave their prize money to the community center that supported their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning touched another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in Southampton and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
