Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 award prize money to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
Fender was given the cheque on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the top album of the past year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages played in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
He also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped locations that were facing possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that helped musicians and fans.
"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp earned the prize in 1996 for their record their work, frontman Cocker announced that the band would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist she shared her award among a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she told outlets.
Previously, the band gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had saved several small stages in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in the city were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
