Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the top album of the past year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped venues that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to worthy causes.
In they earned the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist the singer declared that the act would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.
That year, musician she split her prize between multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Winning was ample," said singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved several local spots in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the properties.
