Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's small concert spaces.
He was given the award on mid-October as his new release his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.
He is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to worthy causes.
Back when the band earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the act would give their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her bounty across a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT announced it had protected several local spots in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in the city and The Croft in the city were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
