Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
The star was given the cheque on 16 October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function small stages had in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
In Pulp received the award in the mid-90s for their release the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her award across several organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Previously, the band donated their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had protected two grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by a national body and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
