Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
The star was given the award on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The donation assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and fans.
"The notion that money from concerts in big venues supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his award prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they earned the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, musician the artist shared her prize across several good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
Previously, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients M People donated their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," said singer Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had protected two local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The first in the city and The Croft in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
