Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's small music venues.
He was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
The donation helped venues that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The notion that money from performances in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to donate his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist Cocker stated that the band would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize between a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.
Two years ago, the band gave their funds to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the properties.
