Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
The star was given the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues 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 region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that helped performers and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
He is among several artists to contribute his award prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician the artist shared her bounty among multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," the artist shared with the media.
Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in the city and the other in the city were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.
