Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the UK's small live music spots.
Fender was given the prize on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the past year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages played in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.
He also took part, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his award funds to good deeds.
Back when they earned the prize in the year 1996 for their release their work, frontman Cocker stated that the act would give their cash to the charity the charity.
That year, artist she split her bounty across a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked artist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success affected somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
