Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's independent music venues.
He was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the past year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues received funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
When Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her award among several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she told outlets.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," said artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several local spots in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and The Croft in that location were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
