Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
He also participated, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
These funds assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to worthy causes.
In they won the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the act would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist she divided her bounty between a few good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
