Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the UK's independent live music spots.
The star was given the award on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
He also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
The money supported venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that helped artists and fans.
"The concept that funds from concerts in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his award funds to good deeds.
In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer stated that the band would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist she split her award among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," the artist told the media.
Previously, they contributed their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they gave their award to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Winning was ample," said artist Small. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning affected another person's life."
In the past week, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of local spots in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.
