Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k award cash to the trust for venues, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his recent tour to assist 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to issues stemming from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and fans.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to worthy causes.
Back when the band received the award in the year 1996 for their release the album, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their cash to the charity the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her award among multiple charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, the band gave their funds to the youth organization that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," said singer Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the second in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
