Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the MVT, which works to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
The star was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
He also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous small stages across the UK.
The donation helped locations that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
Fender is not the first artist to donate his award winnings to good deeds.
When they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the group would give their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist split her bounty among multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," the artist told a publication.
Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," stated singer Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the other in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who buy "stakes" in the properties.
