Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent music venues.
The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record his work was named the top album of the previous year.
He has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped musicians and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to worthy causes.
In the band received the award in 1996 for their album their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her award across a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," the artist explained to a publication.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected another person's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had saved two local spots in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the properties.
