Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
He was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the top album of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Other venues received monetary aid in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues supports the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
He is far from the only musician to give his award funds to charitable organizations.
When Pulp won the prize in 1996 for their album their work, frontman the singer declared that the act would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.
In 2002, artist she split her prize between several charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to the media.
Previously, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year M People contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success touched the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in the city and the other in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
