Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the award on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
He also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across the UK.
These funds helped locations that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
When they won the prize in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician the artist shared her award across several organizations, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Previously, they gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated singer the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved several local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in that area and the other in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
