Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the prize on mid-October as his third album his work was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots had in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous small stages across Britain.
The money helped locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In Pulp won the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty among several good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she shared with outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was ample," said vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Last week, the trust shared it had saved two local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who buy "stakes" in the properties.
