Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the Britain's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
He also took part, generating over £100k on his live tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The money supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
He is not the first artist to donate his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record the album, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her award among several organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
In recent years, they gave their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved two local spots in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in the city and The Croft in the city were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.
