Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the best record of the past year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across the UK.
The donation assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped artists and audiences.
"The concept that funds from concerts in big venues supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In the band earned the award in the year 1996 for their record the album, lead singer the singer stated that the act would give their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, musician she shared her prize among several organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she told outlets.
Previously, they gave their prize money to the community center that supported their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners they donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved two grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by a national body and music fans who buy "stakes" in the properties.
