Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the UK's small live music spots.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his third album his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots had in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I played around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported venues that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and gear that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.
He is not the first artist to contribute his award funds to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their release the album, frontman Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite split her bounty among a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Previously, the band donated their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," stated singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning touched another person's life."
Last week, the trust shared it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
