Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's small concert spaces.
He was awarded the prize on 16 October as his third album the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.
These funds assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
In the band received the prize in 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the band would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she told the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.
"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the trust announced it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in that area and The Croft in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.
