Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 honor winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the Britain's small concert spaces.
The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his third album the album was declared the top album of the previous year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to support numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received monetary aid in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to worthy causes.
Back when they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer declared that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her bounty between multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," she explained to the media.
Previously, they gave their prize money to the community center that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners they donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had saved several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the other in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.
