Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the trust for venues, which operates to preserve the UK's small live music spots.
Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his new release his work was declared the best record of the previous year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across the UK.
The money supported spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in big venues backs the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would donate their prize money to the charity the charity.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award across a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.
