Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the UK's small music venues.
The star was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
These funds supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The notion that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to give his honor winnings to good deeds.
In the band received the prize in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer stated that the act would give their prize money to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist she split her award among a few organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," she told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners they gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
The first in the city and the other in that location were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the properties.
