Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's small concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was named the best record of the past year.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported locations that were facing imminent closure due to issues arising from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to charitable organizations.
When the band received the prize in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would give their winnings to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize across multiple good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said singer Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
