Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the prize on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the top album of the past year.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.
"I personally 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 just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.
In Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, vocalist the singer announced that the band would contribute their winnings to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist she split her bounty among several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, alongside other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning touched another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected several local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
