Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the Britain's small music venues.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was declared the top album of the previous year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his live tour to support 38 local spots across the UK.
These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to good deeds.
Back when Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their album their work, vocalist the singer stated that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize between a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in that area and the other in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.
