Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the previous year.
He has decided to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages had in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The money assisted locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations received financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to give his honor funds to worthy causes.
Back when they earned the prize in 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the act would donate their cash to the charity the charity.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite split her award among a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year the group contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated singer the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected another person's life."
Last week, the MVT announced it had rescued a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
