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The artist has donated the entirety of his £25,000 award winnings to the MVT, which works to protect the UK's small concert spaces.

Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The donation supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

He is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.

Back when they earned the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would donate their cash to the organization War Child.

In 2002, musician the artist split her prize among a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was ample," said singer the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into local control.

One venue in that area and the other in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by a national body and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.