Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's small concert spaces.
Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the past year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
He is not the first artist to donate his honor winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would give their prize money to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize between several charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year they contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Last week, the trust revealed it had saved several local spots in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in Southampton and the second in the city were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the venues.
