Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was named the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
These funds assisted spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in modernizing facilities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The notion that revenue from shows in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is among several artists to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.
Back when they won the trophy in 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she split her bounty across multiple organizations, like the children's charity 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 growing up and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners the group gave their award to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted somebody else's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by a national body and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
