Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
Fender was given the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and gear that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from performances in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.
In the band won the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, musician she shared her award among several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, they gave their prize money to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued two grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
The first in the city and the second in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by a national body and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
