Sam Fender has given the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots played in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
These funds helped spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges caused by floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues received funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when the band won the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist the singer declared that the band would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her award across a few organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the community center that nurtured their group, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT announced it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
