Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.
Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations received monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The concept that money from concerts in big venues supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
He is among several artists to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.
When they won the trophy in 1996 for their album the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would give their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist she shared her award between a few charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the community center that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And winners that year M People gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was ample," remarked singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in that area and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the buildings.
