Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
He was awarded the prize on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
He also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to issues caused by flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from performances in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
He is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp won the award in the year 1996 for their release the album, lead singer the singer announced that the act would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist shared her award among several charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she told a publication.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that developed their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," said singer the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected two local spots in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in the city and the other in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by a national body and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.
