Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 award cash to the MVT, which works to save the UK's independent music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release the album was named the top album of the past year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous local spots across Britain.
The donation supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The idea that money from concerts in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.
In they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would give their prize money to the charity the charity.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her award between multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," the artist told the media.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
