Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k honor winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
He was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots played in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
He also took part, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The money supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained funding support in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped performers and audiences.
"The idea that funds from concerts in large arenas backs the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to give his honor prize money to good deeds.
Back when they won the award in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the group would give their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award among a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
Previously, they gave their funds to the youth organization that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.
Also winners that year they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," stated singer Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success affected the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had saved a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
