Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's small music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the best record of the past year.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages played in his early career.
"I would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.
He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The money supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges arising from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The concept that money from concerts in big venues helps the local stages, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
The musician is among several artists to donate his honor funds to good deeds.
When Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
That year, musician the artist divided her bounty between a few charities, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," the artist explained to a publication.
Previously, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that supported their group, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year they gave their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected another person's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two local spots in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in the city and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who purchase "shares" in the properties.
