Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's independent music venues.
He was given the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was named the top album of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
The money assisted locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when they won the award in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, artist she split her prize across multiple organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she shared with outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also winners that year they contributed their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in that area and the second in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by a national body and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.