Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
He was given the prize on October 16 as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
He also took part, collecting over £100k on his live tour to assist numerous local spots across Britain.
The donation helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues caused by floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and gear that helped performers and audiences.
"The notion that money from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
When Pulp earned the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer stated that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize between multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was ample," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the properties.
