Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 award winnings to the trust for venues, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.
He was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I played around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The concept that money from shows in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to good deeds.
In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician she split her bounty between several charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
In recent years, they donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"The victory was ample," said artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the other in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
