Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was named the best record of the previous year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots played in his initial steps.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the performances I played around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
He is among several artists to give his award funds to charitable organizations.
In they won the award in the year 1996 for their record their work, frontman Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
In 2002, artist the artist shared her bounty among a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she explained to a publication.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the second in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
