Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25k honor winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his third album his work was named the top album of the previous year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots had in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to give his award winnings to good deeds.
Back when they earned the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she told a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust announced it had protected several small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.
