Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
He was given the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the top album of the past year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, raising over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The money assisted locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues arising from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that money from shows in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp won the prize in 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award among multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist told the media.
In recent years, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected two grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the properties.
