Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his live tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in modernizing facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that money from shows in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
He is among several artists to contribute his award funds to charitable organizations.
Back when they earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, frontman the singer stated that the band would give their cash to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer the artist shared her bounty among a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with a publication.
Previously, they donated their winnings to the community center that developed their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated vocalist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected a couple of local spots in south-east England, by placing them under community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
