Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25,000 honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the Britain's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages had in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped spaces that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and gear that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
The musician is among several artists to give his award prize money to good deeds.
When Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would give their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist she split her bounty between several charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," she told the media.
Previously, they contributed their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in the city and the other in Bristol were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
