Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's grassroots music venues.
The star was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped locations that were confronting possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award prize money to good deeds.
Back when Pulp received the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Previously, they contributed their funds to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year M People donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," remarked artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected a couple of local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
