Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's independent music venues.
The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The donation helped venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to good deeds.
When Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize between several organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," she explained to the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners they gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money 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 shared it had protected two local spots in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "stakes" in the properties.
