Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
Fender was given the prize on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation helped locations that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that helped artists and fans.
"The idea that funds from performances in major spaces backs the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to good deeds.
Back when they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their album their work, vocalist the singer declared that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician she divided her bounty across multiple charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," she explained to outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.
