Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the trust for venues, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
The star was awarded the prize on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The money helped venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The notion that money from shows in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his award prize money to charitable organizations.
When the band won the award in the year 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the group would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.
That year, musician the artist divided her prize among several good causes, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she shared with outlets.
Previously, the band contributed their funds to the community center that supported their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also winners that year they gave their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
