Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was presented with the award on mid-October as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
He also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation supported locations that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his award prize money to worthy causes.
In they won the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician the artist shared her prize among multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she explained to the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients the group contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust revealed it had saved several local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
