Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from performances in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has commented.
Fender is among several artists to donate his award prize money to charitable organizations.
When the band earned the prize in 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Cocker announced that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award among several good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued several small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the properties.
