Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.
The star was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record his work was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
The money assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his award funds to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, lead singer the singer stated that the group would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist split her prize between a few charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they gave their funds to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
