Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's small live music spots.
The star was awarded the award on 16 October as his third album the album was declared the best record of the past year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation supported spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
He is not the first artist to give his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when they earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the group would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her bounty across a few charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in that area and the other in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
