Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 award prize money to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
The star was given the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation supported spaces that were confronting possible closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
He is not the first artist to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.
When the band earned the award in 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty across multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Previously, they gave their funds to the community center that developed their group, alongside other local music groups.
And 1994 winners M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the other in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the buildings.
