Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
He was given the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his initial steps.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
He also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.
The money supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from performances in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to give his award funds to good deeds.
In the band won the award in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer the singer stated that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
That year, musician the artist divided her award among a few good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, the band gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said artist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued a couple of local spots in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
