Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's small live music spots.
He was given the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to help 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds helped venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
He is not the first artist to give his award prize money to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp won the trophy in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist she divided her prize between several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust announced it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
