Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's grassroots music venues.
He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release the album was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages played in his beginning days.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to issues arising from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from performances in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
He is not the first artist to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
In the band earned the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her award across several good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she told outlets.
Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the properties.
