Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award winnings to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
The donation supported spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
He is far from the only musician to contribute his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
When the band won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, lead singer the singer announced that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician she split her bounty across a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she told outlets.
In recent years, the band donated their funds to the local youth club that developed their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected two grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in the city and The Croft in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
