Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's grassroots music venues.
The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped venues that were dealing with possible closure due to issues stemming from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, frontman Cocker announced that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization the charity.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite divided her prize between a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist explained to outlets.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several small stages in that region, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
