Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the Britain's independent music venues.
The star was awarded the prize on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages played in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous small stages across Britain.
The money assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his award prize money to good deeds.
Back when the band earned the award in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician the artist split her bounty among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Two years ago, the band donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected several small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in the city and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
