Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots played in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the shows I did around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports local stages.
Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported locations that were confronting imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to give his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In Pulp earned the award in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty among a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she explained to a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that supported their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year they donated their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was sufficient," said artist Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had protected a couple of local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the properties.
