Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
He was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted venues that were facing potential shutdown due to issues caused by flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that money from performances in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to donate his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In Pulp earned the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman the singer declared that the group would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her prize among a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to the media.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year they donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The first in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
