Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's small live music spots.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his latest record his work was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous small stages across Britain.
These funds assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that money from concerts in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
He is among several artists to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record their work, frontman Cocker declared that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her bounty among several charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," she explained to the media.
Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.
And 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was ample," remarked artist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.
