Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 honor winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his new release his work was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
He also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges stemming from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The concept that money from performances in big venues supports the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his award winnings to worthy causes.
When the band earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her prize between a few charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they gave their award to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
