Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the United Kingdom's small music venues.
He was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the previous year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from concerts in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
The musician is among several artists to donate his award funds to charitable organizations.
In they earned the award in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer Cocker announced that the act would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize among a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," she explained to a publication.
In recent years, they gave their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients they gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," said vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Last week, the MVT shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
