Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the Britain's independent concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots played in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.
These funds supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in improving infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The idea that funds from performances in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.
When the band won the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman the singer announced that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician she shared her bounty across a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved a couple of small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The first in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the properties.
