Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's small music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained funding support in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that helped musicians and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues backs the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
He is among several artists to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.
In the band received the prize in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist she shared her award among several good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed better apparatus," she told the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And winners that year they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.
