Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the Britain's small live music spots.
The star was awarded the cheque on 16 October as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.
The money assisted venues that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving facilities and gear that directly benefitted artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to donate his honor prize money to worthy causes.
When the band earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.
That year, artist she split her prize across a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she explained to a publication.
Two years ago, the band donated their winnings to the community center that developed their act, alongside other local music groups.
And 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," said artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved several local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The first in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "shares" in the venues.
