Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was declared the top album of the past year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
He also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has commented.
Fender is among several artists to give his award funds to charitable organizations.
In they received the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer the singer declared that the act would give their prize money to the organization the charity.
During 2002, musician the artist divided her prize among several good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told outlets.
In recent years, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other local music groups.
And winners that year the group contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Last week, the trust announced it had protected several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
