Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's grassroots live music spots.
The star was presented with the award on mid-October as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
He is not the first artist to contribute his award funds to good deeds.
In Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release the album, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.
That year, musician she shared her bounty among multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
In recent years, they contributed their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year M People gave their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
