Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent concert spaces.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 small stages across Britain.
These funds supported locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to give his honor prize money to good deeds.
When Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her bounty across several good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," she explained to outlets.
Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year the group donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"The victory was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success affected another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved a couple of local spots in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The first in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
