Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the past year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and gear that helped musicians and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when they received the award in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her prize across several organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved a couple of local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
