Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25,000 honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
The star was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots played in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
The donation supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.
He is far from the only musician to give his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty among a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Previously, the band donated their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
Also winners that year the group gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the trust shared it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The first in the city and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the buildings.
