Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.
In they earned the award in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Cocker announced that the band would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her award among several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she shared with the media.
In recent years, the band donated their funds to the community center that nurtured their band, in addition to other local music groups.
And 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the venues.