Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's independent concert spaces.
The star was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
He also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.
The money assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that money from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to good deeds.
Back when the band earned the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award between several organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the youth organization that developed their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," said artist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by a national body and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.
