Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
The star was awarded the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped venues that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The idea that money from performances in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.
In the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty between a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she explained to outlets.
In recent years, the band contributed their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," said artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
