Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25,000 award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the Britain's small music venues.
The star was given the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the top album of the previous year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots had in his beginning days.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation helped venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
Fender is among several artists to donate his award prize money to good deeds.
In they earned the prize in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman the singer announced that the act would give their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, artist the artist shared her prize between multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is funded by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the properties.
