Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
The star was given the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the previous year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.
The donation assisted spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that funds from shows in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when the band won the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician she split her award among multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, they contributed their prize money to the youth organization that supported their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked artist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
