Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues received monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from shows in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to good deeds.
In Pulp received the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she split her prize across several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she told outlets.
In recent years, the band donated their prize money to the youth organization that supported their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year they contributed their award to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
The first in that area and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
