Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots played in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations received financial assistance in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
He is not the first artist to contribute his award prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker stated that the band would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her prize between multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," she explained to a publication.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the community center that developed their band, alongside other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected two small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in that area and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.
