Sam Fender has given the full amount of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his third album his work was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to help numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The notion that revenue from performances in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
Back when the band earned the award in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman the singer announced that the group would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, musician the artist divided her prize between multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Two years ago, the band contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted another person's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected two local spots in that region, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
