Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent live music spots.
He was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that money from concerts in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is not the first artist to donate his honor prize money to charitable organizations.
In they earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her prize between a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," the artist explained to outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had saved a couple of small stages in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
