Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
He was given the award on October 16 as his third album People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I played around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his award winnings to good deeds.
Back when Pulp won the prize in 1996 for their album their work, vocalist the singer declared that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her bounty among multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Winning was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had rescued a couple of local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
