Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
The star was given the award on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
The musician is among several artists to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.
When Pulp won the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, frontman the singer declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician she divided her award between a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
In recent years, they donated their prize money to the local youth club that supported their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
And the 1994 recipients the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in the city and the other in the city were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
