Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The money helped locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to give his award winnings to worthy causes.
When Pulp won the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she split her prize across a few charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to a publication.
Two years ago, they donated their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year the group contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked singer Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Recently, the trust shared it had rescued two local spots in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.
