Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his third album his work was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots had in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The donation assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that helped musicians and fans.
"The notion that revenue from performances in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to give his award funds to good deeds.
In Pulp won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, lead singer the singer stated that the band would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she divided her bounty across several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.
