Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 award cash to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the best record of the previous year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I played around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from shows in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to donate his award funds to worthy causes.
When they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, lead singer the singer stated that the band would give their winnings to the charity the charity.
During 2002, artist she split her prize among multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," the artist shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.
"Winning was quite enough," said singer the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
Recently, the trust announced it had saved several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
